Knowledge

Question 1

What are the two key theories of explanations of attachments

Answer 1

Learning theory- attachments are learned through interaction with caregivers who provide food, warmth, comfort.
Evolutionary theory (bowlby)- the desire to form attachments has evolved as it helps the infant survive.

Question 2

What does learning theory include?

Answer 2

Classical conditioning- association

Operant Conditioning- rewards

Question 3

Bowlby’s monotropic theory of attachment 4 features

Answer 3

I- are INNATELY programmed
C- have a CRITICAL PERIOD
C- CONTINUE to influence later relationships
M- have one bond stronger than others, MONOTROPY.

Question 4

Bowlbys maternal deprivation hypothesis

Answer 4

Any disruptions of a child’s attachment bond with her/her mother, or mother substitute, would have serious negative consequences for the child’s development.

Question 5

Possible negative effects of maternal deprivation

Answer 5

• Emotional problems- depression, where the child lacks interest in what is going on around them, they appear to lack energy.
• Personality problems- where the child does not seem to care for anyone and seems to lack empathy so cannot understand others feelings.
• Intellectual problems
• relationship problems
• poor physical development

Question 6

Stages of attachment

Answer 6

Pre-attachment: baby shows little difference in response to different humans.
Indiscriminate attachment: baby starts to show preference to familiar people
Discriminate attachment: baby is showing clear attachment to one or two people.
Multiple attachments: the baby starts to show clear attachments to other people (grandparents, uncles, other children.)