Explanations Of Attachment✅

Question 1

Two explanations for attachment

Answer 1

Learning theory

Bowlbys theory

Question 2

Two types of conditioning

Answer 2

Operant and classical

Question 3

Operant conditioning

Answer 3

Learning by reinforcement

Question 4

Classical conditioning

Answer 4

Shows children attach to adults because they give them food

Question 5

Two types of reinforcement

Answer 5

Positive and negative

Question 6

Positive reinforcement

Answer 6

When a behaviour results in the addition of something pleasant e.g praise from doing your homework well

Question 7

Negative reinforcement

Answer 7

When a behaviour results in the subtraction of something unpleasant e.g you do your homework to avoid getting detention

Question 8

Process of classical conditioning

Answer 8

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)

Question 9

Learning theory of attachment

Answer 9

Classical and operant conditioning

Question 10

Advantages of the learning theory

Answer 10

Has face validity as it makes sense that the children will attach to people who satisfy their basic needs, for example giving food

Question 11

Disadvantages of learning theory

Answer 11

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

Question 12

What was bowlby mainly interested in

Answer 12

Caregiver- child relationship

Question 13

Bowlbys theory

Answer 13

Is quite complex, includes 8 principles but 5 are most important

Question 14

Bowlbys 5 most important principles

Answer 14

Monotropy
Critical period
Social releasers
Internal working model
Continuity hypothesis

Question 15

Monotropy

Answer 15

All children form multiple attachments but only one of them is of significant importance in emotional development

Question 16

Critical period

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Social releasers

Answer 17

These are characteristics that triggers care giving these could be smiling or crying

Question 18

Internal working model

Answer 18

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

Question 19

Continuity hypothesis

Answer 19

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

Question 20

Advantages of bowlbys theory

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Disadvantages of bowlbys theory

Answer 21

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