explanations of attachment

• Learning theory

  • attachment is learnt due to nature
  • food is important in the formation of attachment
  • 'cupboard love'- attachment figure is the provider of food (Dollard and Miller 1950)
  • attachment is based on drive reduction
  • classical conditioning and operant conditioning have a role in attachment.
• classical conditioning- pavlov

  • means learning by association
  • caregiver (mum) starts as a neutral stimulus
  • (NS) over time becomes associated with 'food' and produces the conditioned response (CR) of pleasure
  • food is an unconditioned stimulus. being fed gives us pleasure- an unconditioned response.
  • a caregiver starts as a neutral stimulus (produces no response)
  • the caregiver provides food over time, they become associated with food.
  • the neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus
  • after conditioning the caregiver produces a conditioned response of pleasure
  • the conditioned pleasure response is love (attachment is formed)
  • classical conditioning creates the attachment as the child forms an association of the caregiver (NS) with food (UCS) which causes conditioned response of pleasure.
• Operant conditioning- skinner

  • a baby crying is unpleasant, so the caregiver provides food.
  • the baby is positively reinforced.
  • the caregiver receives negative reinforcement because the unpleasant noise of a baby crying stops
  • operant conditioning strengthens attachment

  Attachment as a secondary drive

  • hunger is a primary drive-motivated to eat to reduce hunger. Food provides comfort (drive reduction).
  • food is a primary reinforcer. caregiver is associated with food so is a secondary reinforcer
  • attachment is a secondary drive learnt by association between the caregiver and the satisfaction of a primary drive
  • the infant becomes attached to the mother because she is a source of reward
• conditioning evaluation 1

  P animal studies do not support the idea that attachment is based on food.

  
  

  E lorenzs geese imprinted in the first moving object they saw

  
  

  E harlows monkeys displayed attachment behaviour towards a cloth 'mother' rather than a wire one which provided food.

  
  

  L animal studies do not support that attachment is formed based on food
• conditioning evaluation 2

  P research shows that food is not important

  E Schaffer and Emerson babies tended to form attachment towards their mother even if she was not the one who usually fed them.

  E less than half had a primary attachment to who usually fed them. they were attached to the most responsive caregiver

  L the primary attachment figure is not always the person who feeds the child.

  Isabella et al (1989) found high levels of interactional synchrony was associated with attachment.
• conditioning evaluation 3

  P conditioning may be involved in attachment.

  E a baby may associate feeling warm and comfortable with an adult so they may become the main attachment figure.

  E classical and operant conditioning explanations see the baby as passive in social development

  L babies take an active role in the interactions that produce attachment
• conditioning evaluation 4

  P Hay and Vespo (1988) parents teach children to love them by demonstrating (modelling) attachment behaviours e.g. hugging

  E parents reinforce behaviour by showing approval when babies display their own reciprocity behaviours (e.g. giving attention or cuddles to their parents).

  L the social learning theory is based around two-way interactions between baby and adult, so it fits better with research into the importance of attachment.
• Bowlbys evolutionary theory

  bowlby believed that attachments were formed to aid survival . concepts such as monotropy and social releasers support this innate theory of attachment
• Bowlbys monotropy theory

  infants have an innate drive to attach to one primary caregiver or attachment figure

  Adaptive:

  • attachment has a biological basis- an innate drive to survive (evolutionary)
  • attachment is adaptive- seeking proximity for safety- aids survival

  Social releasers:

  • babies use signals to attract the carer
  • social releasers e.g. crying, smiling, reciprocity

  Critical period:

  • 2.5 years in human infants
  • if a child experiences separations/deprived of emotional care of the mother during critical period causes mental health issues
  • risk up to 5 if no substitute available
• Bowlbys monotropy theory pt2

  Monotropy:

  • attachment to one person
  • to a single specific caregiver (mother)
  • this relationship is more important than the rest
  • necessary for healthy psychological development

  internal working model:

  • forms blueprint for future relationships
  • first attachment= healthy means they will go on to form good relationships
  • poor first relationship= will expect this treatment (continuity hypothesis)
  • quality of IWM can be influenced by consistency of caregiver
• laws

  Law of continuity= the more constant and predictable a childs care, the better the quality of their attachment

  Law of accumulated separation= the effects of every separation from the mother add up
• Bowlbys theory evaluation 1

  P evidence supports bowlbys theory.

  E Lorenzs geese formed attachments with the first thing they saw suggesting attachment is innate

  E Harlows monkeys were unable to form relationships if they were not provided with a surrogate before 90 days- supporting the idea of negative consequences and a critical period

  E hazan and shaver found people insecurely attached as children had poor relationships as adults- continuity hypothesis

  L evidence supports bowlbys theory
• bowlbys theory evaluation 2

  P children from multiple attachments

  E schaffer and emerson (1964) children from more than one attachment

  E multiple and not monotropic attachments are the norm.

  L cross-cultural research supports forming of multiple attachments challenging the idea of one attachment
• bowlbys theory evaluation 3

  P the concept of monotropy is socially sensitive

  E it places pressure on mothers and underestimates the role of the father

  E attachment to the mother is needed for healthy development and separations lead to negative consequences. mothers should not work.

  L it could be argued that bowlby underestimated the role of the father as he saw fathers role as primarily economic. This is an outdated view as today the importance of equal responsibility for childcare in many families is stressed and in many cases the father as the primary caregiver who stays at home
• bowlbys theory evaluation 4

  P temperament of the child plays an important role in attachment

  E Kagan children are born with an innate personality that influences how they attach to their caregivers

  E some infants are born with friendly traits that make it easier for caregivers to bond with them. Others have difficult personalities that make it harder for caregivers to bond with them

  L a childs temperament leads to their attachment type

  learning theory states that attachment is based on reinforcement. (cupboard love theory) rather than being innate.