Explanation of attachment

• Learning theory explains how infants learn to become attached to their primary caregiver through process of either classical or operants conditioning. Main principle focuses of food
• Classical conditioning is process of learning by associating 2 stimuli together to condition a response
• 1. Before conditioning, food is unconditioned stimulus which produces unconditioned response in child
  2. Caregiver is neutral stimulus, who produces a no conditioned response from child
  3. During conditioning child associated caregiver who feeds with food
  4. Repeated pairing, caregiver becomes conditioned stimulus who is associated with pleasure from feeding. Results in caregiver eliciting conditioned response (relief from hunger) from child
• When infant feels hunger, it has a drive to reduce these unpleasant feelings so is likely to cry to receive comfort. Caregiver provides food, feeling of pleasure is produced for infant which is rewarding and this is called positive reinforcement. Behaviour repeated. Reciprocal process since caregiver also experiences reward in form of negative reinforcement when infant stops crying, so caregiver also experiences negative reinforcement when infant crys
• Evaluation:

  Undermined by Harlow. Found that baby rhesus monkeys spent more time with soft towelling monkey which provided no food, in comparison to wire monkey that provided food. Shows baby rhesus monkeys don’t form attachments based on presence of food alone and prefer contact comfort. Further supported by Schaffer and Emerson‘s research which demonstrated that infants formed attachments to mothers despite often being fed by others
• Evaluation:

  Attachments are result of learning through classical / operants conditioning, therefore supporting nurture based view of behaviour, formation of reductionist (environmental) as they reduce complex behaviour to simple stimulus-response association
• Evaluation:

  Refuted by Lorenz. Found that upon hatching, baby geese followed first moving object they saw. Process, known as imprinting, appears to be innate. Shows non-human animals demonstrate some inborn attachment behaviours to aid survival which goes against idea that we learn to attach to caregiver because they feed us
• Bowlby monotropic theory of attachment takes evolutionary perspective. Children are born with innate tendency to form attachments with their parents in order to increase chances of survival
• Adaptive: attachment is adaptive means they give humans an advantage, making them more likely survive. If infant has attachment, they are kept safe, given food and kept warm by caregiver
• Social releasers: Infants possess inborn social releasers, which unlock innate tendency in adults to care for them. e.g physical- big eyes, button nose. Behavioural- crying, cooing and smiling to get attention
• Critical period: infants must form attachment with caregiver during critical period, which is between 3-6 months of age. However, Bowlby acknowledged that infants could form attachment after this period (3yrs). Bowlby said that if attachment didn't form during this frame, child would be damaged for life- socially, emotionally, intellectually and physically
• Monotropy: Infants form one very special attachment with their primary caregiver, most frequently mother. Special, intense attachment is called monotropy. If mother is not available, infant can bond with another present adult, mother substitute
• Internal Working Model: Through monotropic attachment, infants form IWM. Internal template for future relationship expectation. If a child has strong and healthy attachment with their primary attachment figure, then develop strong and healthy relationships later in life.
• Evaluation:

  Strength is supported by Lorenz. Upon hatching, geese followed first moving object they saw, during 12-17 hour period. Process is known as imprinting and appears to be innate. Research supports Bowlby’s idea of critical period and demonstrates that geese are born with behaviours that help them to survive. Howvever, developmental psychologist often refer to human attachment as sensitive period
• Evaluation:

  Supported by Hasan and Shaver (1987) used self report “Love Quiz” assessing internal working model. Found positive correlation between early attachment types and later adult relationships. Supports Bowlby‘s idea of internal working model and suggests that our early childhood experiences do affect our later adult relationships.
• Evaluation:

  Schaffer and Emerson refute idea that infants must form one special attachment to their caregiver which supersedes all others and provides foundation for subsequent, multiple attachment. Recognise some infants do, in fact, follow this pattern but that there are others who can form multiple attachments with different caregivers at same time such as mother and father simultaneously