explanations of attachment

• learning theory(cupboard love)

  • we are born as blank slates
  • attachment is learned and the basis is food
  • infant forms attachment with whoever feeds it
  • learns to associate feeder (usually mother) with food
  • gradually feels pleasure even when she isnt feeding the infant
  • example of classical conditioning - associating 2 stimuli
• bowlbys evolutionary theory

  • babies come into world biologically preprogrammed to form attachment as it helps them to survive
  • infant produces innate 'social releaser' behaviours - crying/smiling - these stimulate caregiving
  • determinant of attachment isnt food but care and responsiveness
  • children initially form 1 attachment and they act as a secure base and a template for all future relationships
• classical conditioning


  • bottle (US) -> baby (UR)
  • parent (NS) + bottle (pairing) -> baby (UR)
  • parent (CS) -> baby (CR)

  attachment formed !
• bowlbys evolutionary theory

  • monotropy - all children have an important initial attachment (who responds best to the social releasers)
  • internal working model - child learns what to expect from a relationship, created by attachment they have (trust or uncertainty)
  • critical period - attachments must form before child turns 2 and a half. otherwise risk maternal deprivation hypothesis - long term developmental consequences for life
• learning theory eval :) - strengths

  • could explain characteristics of attachment like proximity seeking and seperation anxiety (theyre worrying about food)
• learning theory eval :( - weaknesses

  • bowlby and lorenz argue attachment is innate rather than learnt
  • harlows monkeys preferred the one that provided comfort
  • shaffer and emerson - child formed attachment with most sensitive rather than who provided food
  • ignores emotion / love, cynical about relationships between children and parents
• bowlbys theory eval :( - weaknesses

  • learning theory would argue attachment is learnt rather than innate
• bolwbys theory eval :) - strengths

  • lorenz supports idea of imprinting / attachments are innate
  • glasgow study - supports idea of inital monotropy
  • consequences of harlows monkeys support critical period and internal working model
  • hazan and shavers love quiz supports internal working model in humans