Explanations Of Attachment

Explanations Of Attachment

1. Learning Theory

   • All behaviour is learned through one of two ways.
     • Classical Conditioning
       • Unconditioned Stimulus - Food
         • Neutral Stimulus - Mother
           • Unconditioned Response - Satisfaction
             • Conditioned Stimulus - Mother
             • Conditioned Response - Satisfaction
     • Operant Theory Condtioning
       • Primary Reinforcer - The Food
       • Secondary Reinforcer - Caregiver
       • Baby will repeat any action that brings the mother close e.g. crying.
   • Evaluation
     • Weaknesses
       • From studies, it has been concluded that comfort and sensitivity to a baby is more vital in attachment than food.
         • Schaffer and Emerson (1964) 60 babies from working class area in Glasgow. Found attachments were made with neighbours, siblings and those unrelated to food.
         • Harlow (1959) 16 orphaned Rhesus monkeys in one condition with two mother models. one providing comfort and one providing food. They found that the monkeys spent more time with the comfort giving mother.
       • Temperament Theory (Kagan 1984)
         • Temperament of the child in fact affects how and how many attachments the child makes. Happy baby may find it naturally easier than a more grumpy one.
     • Strength: Can't be used to explain attachment but can be used to show how behaviour is learned

2. Evolutionary Theory

   • Attachment and caregiving is innate, Sensitive Period of attachmen, primary attachment figure & Internal working model.
     • Strength
       • Lorenz (1952) got some gosling to be attached to him, one even staying by his bedside until it was older.
       • Hodges and Tizzard(1989) Adopted mothers were more attached than the biological mother.
   • Attachment is innate and has developed/evolved over time for survival

3. Definition of attachment: A strong and long lasting emotional connection between two people. Typically between the child and the caregiver.