Developmental Psychology - Attachment

Developmental Psychology - Attachment

1. Attachment

   • Strong emotional tie that develops over time between an infant and their primary caregiver(s)
     • Depends on interaction between 2 people rather than simply being together
   • Four Characteristics
     • Seeking proximity , especially in times of stress
     • Distress or separation
     • Pleasure when reunited
     • General orientation of behaviour towards the P.C.
   • Explanations
     • Learning Theory
       • Attachment is a learned process through nurture e.g. Classical conditioning and Operant learning
     • Evolutionary Theory
       • Bowlby's theory-attachment is important for survival, it's an inherited behaviour(nature)

2. Learning Theory

   • Classical Conditioning
     • Learning theory says we have to LEARN to attach and we do so because of FOOD
     • According to learning theory baby has to learn to form attachment with mother.
       • By process of C.C. baby forms association between mother (a neutral stimulus) & feeling of pleasure that comes from being fed (innate unconditioned response)
         • At first baby simply feels comforted by food. However, each time it is fed, mother is there. Quickly associated mother with pleasure of being fed.
           • Before long, mother stimulates feeling of pleasure on own, even without food.
             • Means baby feels happier when mother is near. Beginning of attachment.
   • Operant Learning
     • Learning takes place because of ACTIONS and REWARDS.
     • In operant conditioning association made between an action and a reward.
       • This reward acts as a reinforcer because it causes the action to be repeated.
     • BF Skinner
       • Demonstrated process of O.C. in animals like rats
       • The Skinner Box
         • Mouse performs ACTION: presses lever
           • Mouse receives REWARD: food relieves hunger
             • Reward REINFORCES the action, so mouse repeats it
           • Baby performs ACTION:cries
             • Baby receives REWARD given food to relieve hunger
               • Reward REINFORCES the action, so baby repeats it

3. Evolutionary Theory

   • Tendency to form attachments is INNATE (Present in both infants and mothers)
   • Bowlby (1969)
     • Attachment important for survival. Infants physically helpless-need adults to feed,care for & protect them.
       • Cannot survive without such assistance. Importance of attachment may be fundamental in long term. Foundation for all future emotional relationships.
         • Born with INNATE tendency to form attachment
     • States attachment in infants is similar to that of imprinting
       • Important in the short term for survival and also in long term regarding adult relationships
         • Number of studies have shown adults are less likely to mate with individuals with whom they were raised.
           • Shepher's (1971)
             • Found none of 3000 Israeli marriage records he studied was between individuals that had been raised together on the same communal farms
   • Lorenz (1952) Imprinting
     • Geese- Lorenz set 2 groups
       • Lorenz first moving thing seen by goose chicks after hatching
         • Chicks followed him as if he were their mother
           • When they were adult, they performed mating displays with him and ignored other geese
       • Mother goose first moving thing seen by goose chicks after hatching
         • Chicks followed her when young
           • When adult,performed mating rituals to other geese
     • Found geese have a 'critical period' for imprinting