explanations of attachment Flashcards
outline what the learning theory of attachment is
it is based on the principle of classical conditioning, the infant learns to associate the main caregiver with food and therefore forms an attachment with the main caregiver. the main motivation is food
flow diagram of the learning theory of attachment
food (unconditioned stimulus) -> pleasure in baby (unconditioned response)
caregiver (neutral stimulus) -> food -> pleasure in baby {pairing stage}
caregiver (conditioned stimulus) -> pleasure in baby (conditioned response)
{attachment formed}
what is the pairing stage of the learning theory of attachment?
caregiver (neutral stimulus) -> food -> pleasure in baby
what is the ‘attachment formed’ stage of the learning theory of attachment
caregiver (conditioned stimulus) -> pleasure in baby (conditioned response)
limitations of the learning theory
limitation: counter-evidence from animal research
limitation: counter-evidence from human research
limitation: the learning theory ignores other factors
learning theory limitation: counter evidence from animal research
•there are animal studies that show that young animals do not necessarily attach (or imprint) on those who feed them
•for example, Lorenz’s goslings imprinted before being fed and maintained these attachments regardless of who fed them. And in Harlow’s study, the infant monkeys preferred comfort over food
•this suggests the same must be true for humans- that food does not create the attachment bond, therefore criticising the learning theory
(however, the results may not be able to be generalised to humans)
learning theory limitation: counter-evidence from human research
•research with human infants also shows that feeding does not appear to be an important factor in humans
•schaffer and emerson’s study found that babies developed a primary attachment to their biological mother and even if others did most the feeding, or simply just the adults who were the most responsive /attentive
•this questions the research/ learning theory as it shows that feeding is not the key element to attachment
the learning theory limitation: the learning theory ignores other factors associated with forming attachments
•research suggests that the quality of attachment is associated with factors like reciprocity and the levels of interactional synchrony
•the best quality attachments are formed with the carers most sensitive to the infants needs
•this shows attachment is reliant on factors like responsiveness rather than being primarily reliant on food
what does innate mean?
born pre-programmed for a behaviour
what does adaptive refer to?
a behaviour which is useful for survival
what is a secure base?
a place of safety/ comfort for the infant (the attachment figure provides this)
what are social releasers?
innate characteristics and behaviour of infants which make adults want to care for them (eg. smiling, crying, looking cute)
what is a critical period?
the period of time during which an infant must form an attachment
what is the average length of the critical period for human infants?
2.5 years
what is an internal working model?
a mental framework of how to have relationships based on the first attachment
outline Bowlby’s monotropic theory
bowlbys theory suggests that babies come into the world biologically pre-programmed with an innate ability to form attachments with others, because this will help them survive. the infant produces innate ‘social releases’ behaviours such as crying and smiling that stimulate caregiving from adults. the determinant of attachment is not food but care responsiveness. bowlby suggested that a child would initially form only one attachment and that the attachment figure acted as a secure base for exploring the world. the first attachment acts as a template for all future relationships
evaluation points for Bowlby’s monotrophic theory
Research support
Mixed evidence for monotrophy
Support for social releasers
Support for internal working models
bowlbys monotropic theory
strength: research support
Hazen and Shaver (1987) conducted a study that found the participants romantic relationships tended to echo their memories of their early attachments
bowlbys monotropic theory
limitation: mixed evidence for monotropy
Bowlby believed that babies generally formed one attachment to their primary caregiver, and that this attachment was special and in some way different to later attachments. Only when this attachment was established could a child form multiple attachments.
This view is not supported by Schaffer and Emerson as even though they found that most babies attached to one person first, a significant minority were able to form multiple attachments at the same time.
it is also unclear whether there is something unique about the first attachment. studies of attachment to mothers and fathers tended to show attachment to the mother is more important in predicting later behaviour.
however this could simply mean that attachment to the primary attachment figure is just stronger than other attachments, not necessarily that it is different in quality.
bowlbys monotropic theory
strength: support for social releasers
there is clear evidence to show that cute infant behaviours are intended to initiate social interaction and doing so is important to the baby. Brazleton observed mothers and babies during their interactions, reporting the existence of interactional synchrony.
they then extended the study from an observation to an experiment.
Primary attachment figures were instructed to ignore their babies signals. The babies initially showed some distress but, when continually ignored, some responded by curling up and laying motionless.
The fact that the children responded to strongly supports Bowlbys ideas about the significance of infant social behaviour in eliciting caregiving
who observed mother and infant interactions then conducted a study?
Brazleton
what was Brazleton’s observations/ study?
Brazleton observed mothers and babies during their interactions, reporting the existence of interactional synchrony.
they then extended the study from an observation to an experiment.
Primary attachment figures were instructed to ignore their babies signals. The babies initially showed some distress but, when continually ignored, some responded by curling up and laying motionless.
The fact that the children responded so strongly supports Bowlbys ideas about the significance of infant social behaviour in eliciting caregiving
what was Hazan and Shaver’s study?
they surveyed a large number of respondents to a newspaper advert about their romantic relationships and their childhood memories. they found that their romantic relationships tended to echo their memories of early relationships with their mothers.
when they remembered their mothers being sensitive and responsive they tended to report secure and happy romantic relationships. those who had more negative memories of early attachment were more likely to report either being clingy or being distant in their adult relationships
