Explanations of attachment Flashcards
What is the learning theory?
the belief that attachments develop through conditioning processes
how is classical conditioning involved in the learning theory?
attachments are learned by the stimulus of food which produces a natural response of pleasure paired with a caregiver. after several paired presentations of caregiver and food the infant learns to associate pleasure solely with the food
how is operant conditioning involved in the learning theory?
attachments occurs through caregivers becoming associated with reducing the unpleasant feeling of hunger
dollard and miller did research into the learning theory, what did they do?
argued that in their first year babies are fed 2000 generally by their main carer which creates opportunity for the carer becoming associated with reducing the negative feeling of hunger - supports idea that attachments develop through operant conditioning
Schaffer and Emmerson did research into the learning theory what did they do?
found that in 39% of cases the mother usually the main carer was not the main attachment figure which suggests that feeding is not the primary explanation for attachment - this goes against learning theory
what is the monotropic theory?
the idea that infants have an inbuilt tendency to make an initial attachment with one attachment figure,usually the mother
Who came up with the monotropic theory?
Bowlby
what did Bowlby argue?
that attachment bonds developed through evolution as a control system to maintain proximity to an adult who will ensure a baby’s attachment
how have infants become genetically programmed?
they have become genetically programmed to perform social releases to stimulate adults interactions such as crying, smiling etc.
how does bowlby see attachments as monotropic?
meaning that infants have a tendency to become attached to one particular adult, usually the birth mother
what is the internal working model?
the first attachment to develop is between the infant and it’s mother this is the strongest of all and forms a model for future attachments
what is the evaluation for the monotropic theory?
-although shaffer and emmerson found that children have multiple attachments they also found infants have one primary attachment figure which supports the theory
-reserach evidence supports the continuity hypothesis that there is a consistency between early attachment types and later relationships
emmerson (1964) found that attachments occurred mainly with individuals displaying sensitive responsiveness which goes against this idea
evaluation for learning theory?
- conditioning best explains leanring theory of basic behaviors but attachments are more complex
- schaffer commented that cupboard love theories put things the wrong way round. babies do not live to eat but eat to live
