Unit 1 psychology.

Created by: Emmajustplain
Created on: 07-05-14 20:44

Attachment theory

studies the importance of early relationships between primary care giver and child. linked to survival and emotional social cognitive development.

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attachment:

a close emotional relationship between two persons characterised by a desire to maintain proximity

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learning theory: classical conditioning.

argues that attachment is learned through operant and classical conditioning. the infant associates the food to the primary caregiver. over time a bond is formed irrespective of whether food is present or not.

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learning theory: operant conditioning

suggests reinforcement produces attachment. The infant will attach to caregiver when they are upset or hungry as care giver will respond to there needs. i.e becoming a positive reinforcer. it explains mothers attachment to the child needs.

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positive evaluation of learning theory

provides valuable insight into how the child attaches to the main caregiver and the key roll food plays.

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disadvantage of the learning theory.

Heavily criticised by subsequent research. Harlow: used monkeys to study how infants attach. found that monkeys attached to mother that provided comfort then wired monkey that gave food. therefore contradicts learning theory.

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disadvantage of learning theory.

Infant doesnt always attach to primary caregiver. schaffer and emerson found less than 50% of childrens primary attachment figure was the person who fed them. many children also attach to parents that abuse the. food is not the key factor.

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Bowlbys evolutionary theory 1

argues that humans are genetically motivated to attach to a maternal figure. at birth humans are helpless and need to attach to increase their survival chances. children have certain behaviours that make it easy for them to attach i..e crying.

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bowlbys evolutionary theory 2

child develops bond overtime with caregiver as they respond to childs social releaser. this is called the monotony bond, its the first to develop and its a template for future relationships. critical time period 6months-3 years.

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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

a close emotional relationship between two persons characterised by a desire to maintain proximity

Back

attachment:

Card 3

Front

Back

Card 4

Front

Back

Card 5

Front

provides valuable insight into how the child attaches to the main caregiver and the key roll food plays.

Back

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Unit 1 psychology.