Explanations of Attachment

Explanations of Attachment

1. Learning Theory

   • all behaviour is learnt through experience (association)
   • associates carer w feeding
   • classical conditioning
     • food is UCS
     • Carer is CS
     • pleasure from food is UCR
     • after several pairings of CS and UCS = CS gives UCR
       • after pairings of carer and food = carer gives pleasure (don't need food)
   • operant conditioning
     • any action that has a pleasurable outcome will be repeated
     • positive reinforcement = receiving something good for a behaviour
     • Negative reinforcement = not receiving anything nasty for doing a certain behaviour
       • associating carers with the feeling of reducing hunger, carer becomes a reward
   • Research + Evaluation
     • Israeli metapelets (nannies) did most of the feeding but children more attached to mothers
     • 39% of the time, mother isn't primary carer, reduces LT
     • attachment is complex, LT explains simple behaviours
       • reductionist theory, doesn't take into account the cognitive or emotional nature
     • babies constantly need emotional security not just food

2. Monotropic Theory - evolutionary explanation

   • attach. evolved by natural selection when humans faced constant danger in stone age
     • offspring had to stay close to carer to keep safe
       • became genetically programmed to survive
   • used harlow's research
   • Attachment behaviours: Social releases
     • crying - get parents attention
     • looking, smiling, vocalising - to keep parents attention
     • following, clinging - to keep proximity to parents
       • quiet state - aids mental and social development
         • when state threatened - mother leaves or stranger comes = attachment behaviours are activated
     • displayed from early stage
     • seen when child is ill, scared or in strange area
   • reciprocal process, carer needs to respond sensitively
   • critical period - attachment useless for most after 1yr but useless for ALL after 3yrs
   • IWM - template for future relationships based on primary attachment
     • continuity hypothesis
     • primary attach. is most important, others are secondary
   • Research + Evaluation
     • multiple attachments are the norm
     • Have diff attach for diff purposes
     • research supports IWM
     • one primary carer as well as multiple attach.
     • used in politics, saying women should stay home and not work
     • sees fathers as a minority figure