Explanations of Attachment

Explanations of Attachment

1. Learning Theory

   • Operant
     • Behaviour learnt through trail and error and in reponce to consequense
     • Dollard and Miller 1950
       • Infant experiences hunger= Discomfort and drives them to cry. Comfort is supplied by food which the mother is the source of= Reward. Infant motivated to be with mother = Attachment formed.
   • Classical Conditoning
     • Learning associations between different things in our environment
     • Getting food naturally gives the baby pleasure. Desire fulfilled by mother = association formed between mother and food. Baby will feel pleasure when mother is around = Attachment.
   • Behaviour is learnt
   • Limitations
     • Schaffer and Emerson (1964) Found that good quality interaction was more important for the baby to form at attachment
     • Harlow
       • Baby monkeys more attached to the cloth mother when scared compared to the wire mother that had food.
         • Food not primary reinforcer for attachment

2. Bowlby's Evolutionary Theory (1951)