Explanations of Attachment Flashcards
what does learning theory suggest the reason for attachments forming is
infants learn their caregiver provides them food and so form an attachment
what is the learning theory explanation for forming attachments often called
cupboard love theory
how is the cupboard love theory based on behaviourist principles
the infant forms an association between the food and their caregiver (classical conditioning) and then this relationship is reinforced through operant conditioning
how can classical conditioning describe how an infant forms attachments
NS - caregiver
UCR and CR - pleasure
UCS - milk/food
CS - caregiver
caregiver is always present when infant is fed, therefore an association forms
what two features of operant conditioning can describe how an infant maintains an attachment
positive and negative reinforcement
how does positive reinforcement relate to infants maintaining attachments
infants cry to get a response from their caregiver which benefits the infant (eg feeding), therefore the reward reinforces the action of crying and the infant repeats it
how does negative reinforcement relate to infants maintaining attachments
when an infant is fed it stops crying, therefore the caregiver removes the unpleasant noise, which reinforces the action so the mother repeats it and feeds the infant when they cry
what is the primary reinforcer in the formation of an infant’s attachment
food - directly supplies a reward
what is the secondary reinforcer in the formation of an infant’s attachment
caregiver - source of the reward, only associated with the reward
what is Bowlby’s monotropic theory of attachment summarised
infants are innately programmed to form an attachment since the security and food their mother provides is vital for survival
what do infant’s have/do to help attachments form with their mothers
social releasers
- ‘cute’ features like big eyes, small chin
- behaviours like crying, cooing, gripping
what effect do social releasers have on adults
activate the innate adult attachment system
what is the innate adult attachment system
mothers are biologically programmed to find social releasers cute/distressing and therefore care for the infant
why does bowlby’s theory focus on mothers opposed to caregivers in general
based on monotropy = relationship with primary caregiver which is usually the mother
is bowlby’s theory of monotropy a reciprocal process? and why
yes, both the mother and the infant have an innate predisposition to become attached
what does monotropy mean
the relationship an infant has with their primary caregiver is of special significance in their emotional development and a more important relationship than the rest
how does an internal working model form
an infant forms a mental representation of their relationship with their primary attachment figure
what is an internal working model
a template which models what relationships are like to the infant, which is used to generate expectations of what a loving relationship is like in the future
what does the internal working model affect beyond the infant’s idea of a loving relationship
their ability to parent
how does the internal working model affect an infants ability to parent
people tend to base their parenting behaviour on how they were parented, what they learn a loving relationship looks like from their primary attachment figure
what is the critical period Bowlby outlined for an infant to form an attachment
2 years
what phrase can be used to memorise Bowlby’s theory of attachment
a - adaption (evolution for survival)
snap - social releasers
chat - critical period
makes - monotropy
images - internal working model
what is drive reduction theory
when we feel discomfort we have a drive to reduce this discomfort
how does drive reduction theory apply to the learning theory explanation of attachment
babies seeking food to fix their hunger
