Attachment

Classical Conditioning

We naturally make a certain response to some stimulus. Learning to make the same response to a second stimulus just because it has been associated with the first one.

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Operant Conditioning

We perform an action. Depending on the consequence which follows the action we learn to perform the action again more (or less frequently). Positive or negative reinforcement. All reinforcement strengthens a behaviour.

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Social Learning

WE see someone else perform an action or display and emotion. We imitate this action or emotion ourselves.

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Who does Learning Theory say the baby attaches to?

The person who feeds them.

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Learning Theory: Operant

When the baby is hungry it cries to the caregiver feeds it. The baby learns that when it cries the hunger is removed.(neg rein) and gets the pleasure of milk (neg rein)

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Learning Theory: Operant

The caregiver is also effected. Feeding the baby stops the crying (neg rein) and makes the baby smile (pos rein)

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Learning Theory: Classical

The baby learns to associate the milk with happiness, and the happiness with the caregiver. Therefore, the baby wants to be with the caregiver.

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Evaluating Learning Theory: Harlow

Showed feeding was not the main source of attachment, monkey went to cloth mother for comfort and used cloth mother (not wired one) as a base to explore. These characterise attachment and do not to what LT would have predicted.

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Evaluating Harlow

1) good internal validity, monkey's were taken away from their mothers at birth so the only variable affecting attachment would be whether the wire mother gave milk or comfort. 2) externail validity is poor as it was a lab experiment and human babies

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Evaluating Learning Theory: Schaffer and Emerson

40% of babies formed their first attachment to someone other than the person who fed them, contradicts Learning Theory's central claim. Found that babies go on to form multiple attachments eg: siblings - contradicts LT because relatives wouldn't feed

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Evaluating Learning Theory: Reductionist

Does not consider the complexities of human behaviour and over simplifies

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Bowlby's Theory (1969)

1) Infants and carers are programmed to become attached 2) attachment is a biological process, it takes place during a critical period or not at all 3) plays a role in later development - the continuity hypothesis and monotropy

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Bowlby- Innate programming

Any behaviour that increases an individuals chances of survival and reproduction will be passed on to the next generation. Infants and adults are 'programmed' to attach to each other. Social releasers (crying, cuteness) elicit the reaction.

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Bowlby- A critical period

If development does not take place within this period, it may not take place at all. If the infant has not formed an attachment by the ages of 2 1/2 years then it will not be possible thereafter.

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Bowlby - the continuity hypothesis

The relationship that the infant shares with the one special attachment figure (monotropy) provides the infant with an internal working model of relationships. eg: a good relationship with caregiver = positive internal working model of themselves.

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Bowlby Evaluation - Black & Schutte (2006)

205 young adults to complete 3 measures to assess childhood and adult attachment types. Found a link between type of childhood and adult relationships. Happy relationship with mother = trustworthy adult relationship. (reduced reliability-self report)

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Bowlby Evaluation - Zimmerman et al. (2000)

Recorded life events of 44 children as they grew up eg: parental divorce. Continuity may only apply when serious life events do not have an impact on the child.

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Bowlby Evaluation - Schaffer and Emerson

By 18 months old 87% of the babies studied had formed multiple attachments. Shows that attachment is not just made with one person. This study goes against monotropy.

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Bowlby Evaluation - Comparison with Learning Theory

Bowlby goes into much more detail and is less simplistic.

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Attachment type: Secure

is distressed when the Mother leaves but is easily comforted upon being reunited with the Mother.

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Attachment type: Insecure Avoidant

is not distressed with the Mother leaves and avoids interaction with the Mother upon her return.

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Attachment type: Insecure Resistant

is extremely distressed when the Mother leaves the room and seeks to be with the Mother upon reunification but is not easily soothed.

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Strange Situation Experiment

A controlled observation in a laboratory playroom. Eight episodes lasting around three minutes were standardised. These involved the Mother briefly leaving the baby alone, then returning, then a stranger approaches the baby.

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What was the Strange Situation designed to measure?

Separation anxiety, exploration, stranger anxiety and reunion behaviour.

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Attachment

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