Explanations of Attachment

• Cupboard love theory

  • It argues that infants become attached to their primary caregiver as they learn that their caregiver will provide them with food.
• classical conditioning.

  - learning due to association.
• operant conditioning

  - learning due to patterns of reinforcement
• Stages of classical conditioning

  1. Initially, an unconditioned stimulus (food) provides the infant with a feeling of pleasure which is described as an unconditioned response
  2. Typically a mother is always present when a baby is being fed. The mother becomes associated with the pleasure of being fed
  3. Because of this, the mother changes from being a neutral stimulus to a conditioned stimulus.
  4. And because of this when the mother is in the presence of the infant, the infant experiences the conditioned response of pleasure.
• • Positive reinforcement

  conditioning through the addition of a stimulus.

  When a behaviour is made more likely when receiving a pleasurable stimulus
• • Negative reinforcement

  Conditioning through the retraction of a stimulus

  When a behaviour is made more likely through the removal of an unpleasant stimulus
• primary drives are instinctive. We don't need to learn to seek fulfilment of them. We don't learn to want to eat (or sleep) when we have biological needs such as hunger (or tiredness)
• Secondary drives are learnt and usually used to satisfy a primary drive. E.g money is not an instinctual desire however we are taught to crave it and it will simultaneously satisfy the primary drives (e.g hunger)
• EVAL.

  Learning theory has high face validity. It makes intuitive sense that babies cry more when they learn crying gains them attention and ultimately food.
• EVAL

  The learning theory can be described as environmentally reductionist. Many argue that the complex interactions between caregivers and their infants is more than a mere association between external stimuli and responses. Parents also disagree as they would describe their relationship with their infant as far more complex than being solely driven by factors such as food.
• EVAL

  subsequently, Bowlby's monotropic theory also contradicts this theory. This idea suggests a more evolutionary approach, suggesting an innate drive within infants to form an attachment with their primary caregiver. As they provide security and forming a strong relationship would increase the likelihood of survival.
• EVAL.

  Additionally, there is contradicting evidence to this theory, The Harlow monkey experiment showed that infant monkeys did not become attached to the surrogate wire monkey that provided milk. Instead, they became attached to a cloth ‘mother’ that provided contact comfort. Suggesting other factors like comfort override being fed.
• BOWLBY MONOTROPIC THEORY

  Evolutionary explanation of attachment. Bowlby suggested that infants have an innate drive to form an especially strong attachment to their mother (monotropy). This drive is said to be instinctual as forming this attachment is vital to an infant's survival as mothers provide both food and security.
• Babies instinctively use signals described as social releases (crying, smiling, vocalising ) to attract the attention of the caregiver. Mothers are biologically programmed to respond to these releases finding them either cute or distressing.
• Bowlby was also influenced by Freud's focus on early childhood. Suggesting that the attachment infants form with their primary caregiver acts as a schema. An internal working model that acts as a guide for future relations. How well others can be trusting and if relationships are loving, also forming a model of how the infant is likely to parent in later life.
• Subsequently, Bowlby suggests that these attachments will become stronger with consistent care yet will be disturbed if there are long periods of separation.

  The strength of monotropy can be witnessed with safe base behaviour. Infants with good attachments will use their mother as a base, exploring environments but returning to the mother as a ‘home base ’ returning for reassurance. And if the mother departs or a stranger is introduced the infant often exhibits anxiety and distress. Seeking proximity with the mother.
• EVAL

  Lots of Bowlby's ideas are based on ideas presented by Harlow and Lorenz in their animal studies. Care should be taken when extrapolating animal research to humans. Studies on orphans who have experienced extreme levels of maternal deprivation were still able to form close attachments later on and this ‘critical period ’ is not as rigid as that for geese and is better described as ‘sensitive’
• EVAL

  Bowlby’s ideas have influenced later researchers like Mary Ainsworth. They also have practical applications in childcare. Social services actively investigate and prioritise infant neglect as they understand the detrimental long-term harm. Also, immediate physical contact upon birth is encouraged in hospitals
• EVAL

  Bowlby’s research lacks temporal validity. Lots of his ideas perpetuate fathers as a resource provider and mothers have a crucial monotropic role. Highlighting an alpha bias within his theory. Although his research is reflective of a 1940s society. Its difficult to apply today where caregiving responsibility is shared between both parents and possibly subsequent members.
• EVAL

  The learning theory is an opposing view on attachment within infants suggesting that babies form attachment with their primary attachment figure due to the idea of ‘cupboard love ’ The association between a mother and rewards such as food. And numerous well-controlled experiments support this explanation
• EVAL

  subsequently the continuity hypothesis suggesting attachment in infants can predict later relationships contrasts the popular belief in autonomy. That people have complete conscious control over their relationships and are responsible for the outcomes of these relationships and they are not set in infancy.