explanations of attachment

• what is the learning theory of attachment ?

  • form attachments through classical conditioning
  • e.g. associate caregiver w food
  • then strengthened through operant conditioning :
  • positive reinforcement - baby cries gets food which is pleasant
  • negative reinforcement - takes away baby crying for mother
• what is the evaluation of the learning theory ?

  • counter evidence from animal studies - lorenz and harlow
  • counter evidence from human research - schaeffer and emerson
  • ignores other factors - eg interactions
• what is monotropy ?

  • one attachment is different from all others and is of central importance
• what is a critical period ?

  • time where attachment must form if its to form at all
  • 6m - 2 and half years
• what is a social releaser ?

  • cute behaviors used to grab attention of caregivers
• what is an internal working model ?

  • mental representation of primary caregiver and is template for what future relationships should look like.
• what is the continuity hypothesis ?

  • early relationships predict later relationships
• what is innate ?

  • occurs naturally w no need for learning or experience
• what is bowlbys monotropic theory ?

  • monotropic
  • innate
  • critical period
  • social releasers
  • internal working model
  • continuity hypothesis
• what is the evaluation of bowlbys monotropic theory ?

  • socially sensitive and has economic implications
  • research support from animal studies - lorenz and harlow
  • real life application - hospitals
  • undermines learning theory
  • undermines role of father