3. Explanations of Attachment

Question 1

What is the Learning theory

Answer 1

• Learning theory is also known as behaviourist theory.
• Focuses on the baby wanting its needs fulfilled.
• Learning theory links attachment & pleasure.

Question 2

Learning theory: Classical conditioning

Answer 2

• This is abt learning associations between diff things in our env.
• Getting food naturally gives the baby pleasure.
• The baby’s desire for food is fulfilled whenever its mother is around to feed it.
• So an association is formed between mother & food. So, whenever mother is around, the baby will feel pleasure.

Question 3

Learning theory: Operant conditioning

Answer 3

• Dollard & Miller (1950) claimed that babies feel discomfort when theyre hungry & so have a desire to get food to remove the discomfort.
• They find that if they cry, their mother will come & feed them - so the discomfort is removed (this is negative reinforcement).
• The mother is therefore associated w food & the baby will want to be close to her. This produces ‘attachment behaviour’ (separation anxiety).

Question 4

STRENGTHS of Learning theory

Answer 4

• The learning theory of attachment has lots of support from scientific research.

Question 5

WEAKNESSES of Learning theory

Answer 5

• It is reductionist - tries to explain complex attachment using simple stimulus-response processes.
• Lots of evidence for Learning theory uses animal studies - findings are not always generalisable.
• Schaffer & Emerson’s (1964) findings dont fully support Learning theory. In their study, half of the infants didn’t have their mother as the primary attachment.

Question 6

What did John Bowlby do

Answer 6

Evolutionary theory to explain attachment

Question 7

Bowlby’s main claims:

Answer 7

1. Attachment can be explained by evolution
2. Monotropy
3. Internal working model of attachment
4. Critical period

Question 8

Bowlby’s main claims: 1. Attachment can be explained by evolution

Answer 8

• States that we have evolved a biological need to attach to our main caregiver.
• The biological need has developed through natural selection to ensure the survival of the child to maturity.

Question 9

Bowlby’s main claims: 2. Monotropy

Answer 9

• Bowlby’s idea of monotropy is that we form one main attachment - usually to our biological mother. Forming this attachment has survival value, as staying close to the mother ensures food & protection.
• A strong attachment (monotropy) provides a ‘safe base’, giving us confidence to explore our env.

Question 10

Bowlby’s main claims: 3. Internal working model of attachment

Answer 10

• Bowlby’s theory also says that forming an infant attachment gives us a ‘template’ for all future relationships - we learn to trust/care for others. This forms an internal working model for all later attachments.
• The model is a ‘working’ model bc it can change/develop overtime, depending on how the person’s relationships change.
• The primary caregiver provides the foundations for the child’s future adult relationships (to be socially & emotionally competent) - this is called the continuity hypothesis.
• Infants who arent strongly attached have more social & emotional difficulties in future adult relationships.

Question 11

Bowlby’s main claims: 3. Critical period

Answer 11

• Babies should develop attachments w their caregiver during the most Sensitive period (3-6 months).
• The first 2-2.5yrs of life are the **critical period ** for attachment to develop - otherwise it might never do so.
• If the attachment doesnt develop (or if it’s broken) during this critical period, could srsly damage child’s social & emotional development.
• Bowlby’s ‘maternal deprivation hypothesis’ assumes if the relationship between the primary caregiver (often mother) & infant is disrupted or stopped during the critical period, there are long-term consequences.

Question 12

SUPPORT for Bowlby’s theory

Answer 12

• Harlow’s study supports the idea that we have evolved a need to attach. It also suggests that social & emotional development might be damaged if an attachment isnt formed.

Question 13

AGAINST Bowlby’s theory

Answer 13

• Schaffer & Emerson (1964) provided ev against Bowlby’s claims about monotropy. They found that, rather than one main attachment, many children form multiple attachments, & may not attach to their mother.
• Harlow’s study of monkeys ALSO goes against idea of monotropy. Other monkeys who didn’t have a mother, but who grew up tg, didn’t shown any signs of social & emotional disturbance in later life. They didn’t have a primary caregiver, but seemed to attach to eachother instead.
  The effect of not developing may not be as bad as Bowlby claimed.

Question 14

Bowlby’s impact on the economy

Answer 14

Bowlby’s report in the 1950s led to an increase in ‘stay at home’ mothering. This had a subsequent impact on the economy as fewer women were going to work.