Explanations of attachment

Question 1

learning theory

Answer 1

Dollard and Miller suggested attachment explained by ‘cupboard love’ approach, emphasising primary attachment figure as food provider

Question 1

learning theory evaluation

Answer 1

Pavlov’s Scottish monkeys are innately conditioned

Question 2

Classical conditioning

Answer 2

learning a behaviour by associating to different stimuli (NS and UCS) to create a conditioned response

Question 3

Operant conditioning

Answer 3

Behaviour is learned or altered by patterns of reinforcement. Reinforced behaviour will be repeated

Question 4

UCS in attachment

Answer 4

food

Question 5

NS in attachment

Answer 5

caregiver

Question 6

CS in attachment

Answer 6

Caregiver

Question 7

UCR and CR in attachment

Answer 7

Happy baby

Question 8

Primary reinforcer and what this is in attachment

Answer 8

stimulus that innately satisfies
food is a primary reinforcer as it directly satisfies hunger

Question 9

secondary reinforcer and what this is in attachment

Answer 9

stimulus associated with primary reinforcer so reinforces by itself
caregiver = s. reinforcer as they provide the p. reinforcer

Question 10

how does positive reinforcement create an attachment?

Answer 10

hungry infant uncomfortable so cries as driven to reduce discomfort.
feeding reduces discomfort and baby feels pleasure (reward)
attachment occurs because baby seeks out person who provided reward

Question 11

how is the caregiver negatively reinforced in OC

Answer 11

when feeding baby, crying (negative thing) stops so mum becomes attached to baby

Question 12

monotropy

Answer 12

Baby is attached to one specific caregiver

Question 13

internal working model

Answer 13

emotional attachment to PAF forms a template for infant’s later attachments

Question 14

why is the monotropic theory also called the ‘evolutionary theory’?

Answer 14

babies with an attachment have advantage over those without so therefore more likely to grow up and pass on genetic make-up

Question 15

social releasers

Answer 15

innate behaviours and features that help baby engage with PAF and encourage caregiving

Question 16

why did Bowlby emphasise mother as PAF?

Answer 16

believed it is qualitatively different and more important than other relationships/attachments in childhood

Question 17

two principles of IWM

Answer 17

1. law of continuity –> the more constant and predictable a child’s care, the better the quality of attachment
2. law of accumulated separation –> effects of every separation from mother adds up; safest does is 0 dose

Question 18

sensitive period

Answer 18

time during which child is maximally sensitive to developing attachments

Question 19

what is the latest Bowlby suggested the critical period can be delayed?

Answer 19

3-4 years –> after which attachments can’t form in most babies

Question 20

Monotropic theory evaluation

Answer 20

Scottish economies influence cultural fathers