Explanations Of Attachment Flashcards
What are the four characteristics of attachment as identified by Macoby?
- Joy on reunion
- Separation anxiety (seeking proximity)
- Distress on separation
- General orientation of behaviour
What is the learning theory?
The learning theory/behaviourist theory links attachment to pleasure.
(Focuses on the baby wanting it’s needs fulfilled)
What is classical conditioning?
Classical conditioning is about learning associations between different things in our environment.
How does classical conditioning link to a baby’s needs?
Getting food naturally gives a baby pleasure.
The baby’s desire for food is fulfilled whenever the mother is around to feed them.
Therefore an association is created between mother and food.
Whenever the mother is around the baby will feel pleasure=attachment.
What is attachment?
An emotional bond between two people developed from an early stage which then grows overtime. It is a non interchangeable relationship as the feelings are mutually reciprocated causing an absence between the two to cause despair and sorrow in both parties.
What is operant conditioning?
The use of negative reinforcement.
Which is the removal of something bad to receive what they want meaning the action is more likely to be repeated
E.g a baby crying when hungry
How do babies use operant conditioning?
Dollard and Miller
Dollard and Miller claimed that babies feel discomfort when they’re hungry and have a desire to remove that discomfort.
They find that if they cry their mother will come and feed them which removes the discomfort.
The mother is then associated with food and the baby will want to remain close (Macoby)
What was the aim of H—–’s attachment study?
Harlow wanted to prove that ‘just because babies spend most of their time either eating or sleeping does not mean they automatically attach to the person feeding them.
What were the findings of H—–’s attachment study?
The infant rhesus monkeys formed more of an attachment with the surrogate mother that provided comfort and protection.
What is ethology?
The study of animals in their natural environment.
What is imprinting?
The rapid form of attachment to the first large object seen.
When does imprinting occur?
During the critical period.
13-16 hours
What is monotropy?
Who came up with it?
The idea of a child having an innate need to attach to one main attachment figure.
Bowlby.
What is a safe base?
A strong attachment provides a safe base which gives us confidence to explore our environment.
What does Bowlby’s evolutionary theory of attachment give us a template for?
For all future relationships, we learn to trust and care for others
