Attachment:Explanations of Attachment

Attachment:Explanations of Attachment

1. Learning Theory; Conditioning

   • Behaviour is learned.
   • Classical Conditioning- Food produces pleasure, mum is feeder so also produces pleasure. Operant Conditioning-Food is primary reinforcer, feeder is secondary reinforcer
   • Learn through conditioning/through association & reinforcement, but food may not be main reinforcer
   • Schaffer & Emerson1964: Infants not really attached to the adult who feeds them.
   • Harlow1959: Monkey Experiment: Food is less important than contact comfort
     • Validity can be questioned, as study on animal

2. Bowlby's Theory; Evolutionary(BORN)

   • Adaptive & Innate
   • Sensitive Period
   • Secure Base
   • Continuity Hypothesis
   • Caregiving is adaptive
   • Monotropy & Hierarchy
   • Internal Working Model
   • Cultural Variations; Attachment may lead to dependence instead of independence in some cultures
   • Individual Differences; Different types of attachment- secure & insecure