Explanations of Attachment: Learning theory + Bowlby's theory Flashcards
What is the learning theories explanation of attachment
Dollard and Miller proposed that caregiver-infant attachment can be explained by learning theory. Their approach is sometimes called a cupboard love approach because it emphasises the importance of the caregiver as a provider of food. According to this approach we acquire attachment through classical conditioning and it is then reinforced by operant conditioning.
How can classical conditioning be applied to attachment?
Classical conditioning involves learning to associate two stimuli together so that we begin to respond to one in the same way as we already respond to the other. Food serves as an unconditioned stimulus. Being fed gives us pleasure - it is an unconditioned response. A caregiver starts as a neutral stimulus. When the same person provides the food over time they become associated with food - when the baby sees this person there is an immediate expectation of food. The neutral stimulus has become a conditioned stimulus. Once conditioning has taken place the site of the caregiver produces a conditioned response of pleasure.
How can operant conditioning be applied to attachment?
Operant conditioning involves learning to repeat behaviour, or not, depending on its consequences. If a behaviour produces a pleasant consequence, their behaviour is likely to be repeated again - the behaviour has been reinforced. If the behaviour produces an unpleasant consequence it is less likely to be repeated. Crying leads to a response from the caregiver, for example feeding. As long as a caregiver provides a correct response, crying is reinforced. The baby then directs crying for comfort towards the caregiver who responds with comforting social suppressor behaviour. This reinforcement is a two-way process. At the same time as the baby is reinforced for crying, the caregiver receives negative reinforcement because the crying stops – escaping from something unpleasant is reinforcing. This internal play of mutual reinforcement strengthens an attachment.
How can attachment be explained by drive production?
Hunger is a primary drive as it is a biological motivator. We are motivated to eat, in order to reduce the hunger drive. Sears et al suggested that, as caregivers provide food, the primary driver of hunger becomes generalized to them. Attachment is just a secondary drive learned by an association between the caregiver and the satisfaction of the primary drive.
Explain Bowlby’s theory of attachment
What is the law of continuity?
What is the law of accumulated separation?
Bowlby’s theory is described as monotropic because he placed great emphasis on a child’s attachment to one particular caregiver and he believes that the child’s attachment to this one caregiver is different and more important than others. Bowlby believed the more time a baby spent with this mother figure the better. He put forward two principles to clarify this:
The law of continuity stated that the more constant and predictable a child’s care, the better the quality of their attachment.
The law of accumulated separation stated that the effects of every separation from the mother add up and therefore separation should be avoided.
According to Bowlby, how do attachments form?
Bowlby suggested that babies are born with a set of innate cute behaviours like smiling, cooing and gripping that encourages attention from adults. He called these social releasers because their purpose is to activate the adult attachment system. Bowlby recognised that attachment was a reciprocal process. So, both mother and baby have a predisposition to become attached and social releasers trigger that response in caregivers.
The interplay between infant and adult attachment systems gradually builds the relationship between the infant and caregiver, beginning in the early weeks of life. Bowbly proposed that there is a critical period around 2 years when the infant attachment system is active. In fact Bowlby viewed this as more of a sensitive period. A child is maximally sensitive at the age of 2 but, if an attachment is not formed in this time a child will find it much harder to form one later.
According to Bowlby how does early attachment affect later life?
Bowbly proposed that a child forms a mental representation of their relationship with their primary caregiver. This is called an internal working model because it serves as a model for what relationships are like. If there was a powerful effect on the nature of the child’s future relationships. A child whose first experience is of a loving relationship with a reliable caregiver will tend to form an expectation that all relationships are as loving and reliable, and they will bring these qualities to future relationships. However, a child whose first relationship involved poor treatment will tend to form further poor relationships in which they expect such treatment from others or treat others in that way. Most importantly the internal working model affects a child’s late ability to be a parent themselves. People tend to base their parenting behaviour on their own experiences of being parented. This explains why children from functional families tend to have similar families themselves.
