Paper 1 - Attachment - Explanations of Attachment - Learning theory and Bowlby's monotropic theory

Question 1

Name the two learning theories of attachment

Answer 1

• Classical conditioning - association of mother with food
• Operant conditioning - consequences - mother secondary reinforcer, food is primary

Question 2

Explain how classical conditioning leads to attachment

Answer 2

• Milk provided by the mother is an unconditioned stimulus which provides an unconditioned response in the baby of pleasure/relief from hunger. This response is automatic and does not need to be learnt.
• The neutral stimulus is the feeder (mother), and through repetition the feeder becomes associated with the milk and feeling pleasure.
• The mother becomes the conditioned stimulus. Therefore the baby has made an association and will feel pleasure when seeing the mother alone (conditioned response).

Question 3

What is the mother before classical coniditioning occurs?

Answer 3

Neutral stimulus

Question 4

Explain how operant conditioning leads to attachment

Answer 4

• When the baby feels uncomfortable because it is hungry they experience a drive state, which motivates the baby to find a way to lessen the discomfort (e.g. crying to be fed).
• Being fed leads to drive reduction. The food is the primary reinforcer and the feeder is a secondary reinforcer (as the source of reward) so an attachment is formed with the feeder.
• Negative reinforcement also works on the caregiver. Feeding stops the crying of the baby which was unpleasant, strengthening their attachment.

Question 5

Evaluate learning theory as an explanation of attachment

Answer 5

:( Harlow - comfort more important than food
:( Animal extrapolation counterargument - emotions
:( Schaffer and Emerson - responsiveness most important. 39% primary attachment to someone other than feeder
:( Alternative explanation - Bowlby’s monotropic theory (evolutionary). Nature vs. nurture.

Question 6

Which approach does the learning theory of attachment belong to?

Bonus - which side of the nature vs. nurture debate does it fall?

Answer 6

Behaviourist Approach

Nurture - learning through environment

Question 7

What is meant by monotropy?

Bonus - which two laws did Bowlby include?

Answer 7

Infants form one special attachment that is more important than any other (usually with the mother)

Bonus - 1. Law of continuity 2. law of accumulated separation

Question 8

Outline Bowlby’s monotropic explanation of attachment

Remember the mneumonic?

Answer 8

1. Monotropy - one special attachment
2. Innate - evolutionary for survival
3. Critical period - up to 2 years
4. Internal working model - first attachment is a template for future relationships (schema)
5. Social releasers - innate cute behaviours to drive attachment e.g. smiling

Mneumonic - my, incredible, child, is, sociable

Question 9

Evaluate Bowlby’s monotropic theory as an explanation of attachment

Answer 9

:( contradictory research - Shaffer + Emerson 27% joint attachment

:( socially sensitive for working mothers - economic impact

:) supportive research for innate critical period - Lorenz + geese
CA - animal extrapolation

:) supportive research for internal working model - mothers with poor attachment to their primary attachment figures were more likely to have poorly attached babies.

Question 10

Is Bowlby’s theory nature or nurture

Answer 10

Nurture - innate, evolutionary drive to increase chance of survival

Question 11

What are Bowlby’s two laws

Answer 11

1) Law of continuity - Constant and predictable care is better for attachment

2) Law of accumulated separation - “safest dose is a zero dose”, as each time adds up