Intro and Skinner Flashcards
Define attachment
Attachment is the formation fo a reciprocal, emotional bond between 2 people involving a feeling of well being and a desire to be close
Describe the attachment behaviour: distress on separation
the infant will show distress when the caregiver leaves even after a short time, older children may miss parents/get homesick when away
Describe the attachment behaviour: general orientation of behaviour towards the other person
both baby and caregiver direct their attention to each other and try to engage with activities and interaction
Describe the attachment behaviour: seeking proximity
attached will want to be near each other, spend time together. Young baby will try to maintain proximity by watching caregiver and crying when they’re too far away
Describe the attachment behaviour: joy on reunion
baby will welcome back their attachment figure by clinging/hugging even after 5 mins apart
Who conducted research into gradual development of attachments?
Schaffer and Emerson 1964
60 babies in Glasgow, monthly visits in 1st year, again at 18m
What 2 behavioural measures of attachment were used by Schaffer and Emerson? What methods were used to collect data?
Separation anxiety, Stranger distress
Observation, Interviewing
When does the attachment bond form? (refer to attachments behaviours from research)
separation anxiety at 6-8 months
stranger distress month later
To whom are first attachments formed?
mother = 65% father = 3% joint = 27%
Was physical care important for developing an attachment?
No, in almost 40% babies, the carer was not the first attachment firgure
What are the 2 types of conditioning in the Learning Theory of Attachment?
classical: learnt by association (mother and food)
operantly: +/- reinforcement and punishment (stopping behaviour), mother’s attention to infant negatively reinforced by infant stopping crying
What are 2 key points about the Learning Theory of Attachment? Who made the theory?
attachment is a learned process (nurture), babies are said to attach to the person who feeds them. Skinner
How does Schaffer and Emerson’s research disprove the Learning Theory of Attachment?
In almost 40% of babies primary care giver (feeder) wasn’t always the primary attachment figure
Give details of Harlow and Harlow’s 1962 research
rhesus monkeys, 2 surrogate mothers: wire that fed and cloth mother. Monkeys spent more time with cloth mother, went to her when scared
How does Harlow and Harlow’s research disprove the Leaning Theory of Attachment?
According to the theory, the wire mother who fed the monkey’s should have been the primary attachment figure but the cloth mother was preferred
