Explanations Of Attachment✅ Flashcards
Two explanations for attachment
Learning theory
Bowlbys theory
Two types of conditioning
Operant and classical
Operant conditioning
Learning by reinforcement
Classical conditioning
Shows children attach to adults because they give them food
Two types of reinforcement
Positive and negative
Positive reinforcement
When a behaviour results in the addition of something pleasant e.g praise from doing your homework well
Negative reinforcement
When a behaviour results in the subtraction of something unpleasant e.g you do your homework to avoid getting detention
Process of classical conditioning
Before conditioning- the food is an unconditioned stimulus, when given to the baby it makes the baby happy this is unconditioned response
During conditioning- the mother is neutral stimulus, when she gives food (unconditioned stimulus) to the baby makes it happy (unconditioned stimulus)
After conditioning- the mother becomes conditioned stimulus as when the baby sees her automatically thinks they’ll get food so the baby is happy (conditioned response)
Learning theory of attachment
Classical and operant conditioning
Advantages of the learning theory
Has face validity as it makes sense that the children will attach to people who satisfy their basic needs, for example giving food
Disadvantages of learning theory
Harlows monkeys contradicts as they believe that the main factor of attachment was comfort
Can be accused of being reductionist as it’s too simplistic and doesn’t account for complex human behaviour. For example, it ignores the important role of genetic and evolutionary aspects which is largely important in the formation of attachment
What was bowlby mainly interested in
Caregiver- child relationship
Bowlbys theory
Is quite complex, includes 8 principles but 5 are most important
Bowlbys 5 most important principles
Monotropy Critical period Social releasers Internal working model Continuity hypothesis
Monotropy
All children form multiple attachments but only one of them is of significant importance in emotional development
Critical period
A determined period of time in which a child forms an attachment. If a child doesn’t form an attachment in this period of time it will be very difficult to form attachments. He believes after 2 and a half years there’s likely to be serious developmental issues in later life
Social releasers
These are characteristics that triggers care giving these could be smiling or crying
Internal working model
Primary attachment provides a child with an internal working model. It’s a mental model or template for their future relationships, it’s a template of what to expect
Continuity hypothesis
The idea that there’s a link between early attachments and later emotional behaviour. If a child doesn’t form an attachment within the critical period, it’s likely to result in serious long term effects
Advantages of bowlbys theory
Harlows monkeys supports, agrees there’s a internal working model as they show monkeys in isolation suffered long term effects they couldn’t form attachments when they were older
Shaver and haven- also agrees internal working model has long term effects
Disadvantages of bowlbys theory
Underestimates the role of the father- focuses on mother being primary care giver but Schaffer and emersons research shows fathers can be equally important
Critical period has been criticised- czech twins have found attachments can be developed outside the critical period. Genie shows it’s difficult to form an attachment after 13 years
