Two Theories Of Attachment 12 Marks

Question 1

Learning theory classical conditioning explanation

Answer 1

Classical conditioning
US - food
UR - pleasure at food
NS (neutral stimulus) - mother
NR - no feeling
Mother becomes associated with food and therefore becomes the conditioned stimulus
Mother produces conditioned response - comfort at food

Question 2

Learning theory operant conditions explanation

Answer 2

Operant conditioning
Explains why babies cry for comfort
Crying leads to a response from the caregiver - crying is reinforced because it produces a pleasurable consequence
Negative reinforcement for parents - want to get rid of crying

Question 3

Learning theory

Weakness

Answer 3

P - The theory ignores other factors linked with attachment
E - research shows that quality of attachment is also linked with developing reciprocity and good levels of interactional synchrony
E - studies show beats quality attachments are with sensitive carers who pick up signals from infants and respond effectively
L - it is difficult to look at these findings as still believe that attachment is primarily based on feeding

Question 4

Bowlbys theory - what does bowlby believe about babies abilities for attachment?

Answer 4

Attachment is innate - we are born wanting to have an attachment for a survival advantage to protect them

Question 5

Bowlbys theory - why and how is one person so important?

Answer 5

Monotrophic - a primary attachment figure
One person is most important
Most time possible spent with them is best - there is a critical period of about 2 years
This relationship will affect relationships in the future

Question 6

Bowlbys theory - in what ways are babies “active”

Answer 6

Social releasers

‘Cute’ things they do to activate the adult attachment system - attachment is a reciprocal system

Question 7

Bowlbys theory

Strength

Answer 7

P - there is evidence for social releasers
E - Brazleton et al (1975) instructed primary attachment figures to ignore social releasers
E - babies were initially distressed but some eventually curled up and lay motionless
L - shows how social releasers initiate interaction and prompts caregiving

Question 8

Bowlbys theory

Limitation

Answer 8

P - bowlby may have over emphasised the role of attachment
E - the child’s temperament ( genetically influenced personality) is important in the development of social behaviour
E - temperament researchers have shown that some babies are more anxious than others as a result of genetic make up
L - temperamental differences rather than quality of attachment can account for later social behaviour