Explanations of Attachment

• Learning Theory

  Dollard + Miller suggested virtually all behaviour is learned rather than innate (nurture), only certain behaviours such as crying and a fear response are innate (nature). Known as 'cupboard love' because it emphasises the importance of the caregiver providing food, children learn to love whoever feeds them
• Learning theory CC + OC

  CC - Food (UCS) 🠖 Pleasure (UCR), Food (UCS) + Caregiver (NS) 🠖 Pleasure (UCR), Caregiver (CS) 🠖 Pleasure/attachment (CR)

  
  

  OC - PR 🠖 baby cries so gets food, crying is reinforced

  NR 🠖 child is fed, unpleasant sensation of hunger stops
• Evaluation of Learning theory

  X Animal research - learning theory has been criticised for its reliance on animal studies to explain human behaviour (human attachment is too complex). This means it wouldn't be appropriate to apply the findings to humans

  X Human research show that feeding isn't an important factor - Schaffer + Emerson studied multiple attachments in infants, this study contradicts the learning theory because some infants formed an attachment with the father even though the mother was feeding them. This reduces the validity of the theory
• Bowlby's Theory

  Bowlby believed, attachment is innate (nature), its evolved because it ensures young animals stay close to their caregivers 🠖 protects from hazards. This is an evolutionary explanation as attachment is seen as having adaptive value because it promotes survival
• Bowlby's Theory: Monotropy

  The theory is described as monotropic as it has emphasis on the child's attachment to one caregiver which would be different and more important than others and only after this has been formed can the child form multiple attachments. He believed that the more time spent with attachment figure, the better. 2 reasons why:

  1. Law of continuity - the more constant a child's care, the better quality of attachment
  2. Law of accumulated separation - the effects of every separation add up and can harm the child psychologically
• Evaluation of Monotropy

  X Evidence for monotropy is mixed - some studies suggest that the primary attachment is just stronger but no different in quality. Therefore lacks validity

  X Monotropy is socially sensitive - law of accumulated of separation says time apart causes poor quality attachment, this puts pressure on mothers in making lifestyle choices such as not returning to work. Wasn't his intention, thought it would boost status of mothers by emphasising importance of their role
• Social releases - born with a set of innate 'cute' behaviours e.g smiling which encourages attention from adults, the purpose of these is to activate the adult attachment system, this is how Bowlby recognised it as a reciprocal system

  
  

  Critical period - from birth until 2yrs, a child is maximally sensitive up to age of 2-3 where they're ready to form a monotropic attachment
• Internal Working Model - first attachment forms a template for future relationships and could also affect the child's later ability to be a parent

  + Support for the idea of the IWM - it predicts that patterns of attachment will be passed from one generation to the next - Harlow's maternally deprived monkeys had social problems and couldn't maintain relationships or properly parent their children. Also IWM is used to see how people who have been abused become abusers themselves
• Impacts of Bowlby's theory/implications

  • worked for WHO
  • free childcare was dropped
  • in divorce, the mother is always prioritised
  • "a bad mother is better than the finest institution"
  • father's job is only financial