Explanations of Attachment

Explanations of Attachment

1. Learning theory

   • All behaviour is learnt
   • Classical conditioning
     • Food produces pleasure. 'Feeder' (mother) is associated with food so also produces pleasure.
   • Operant conditioning
     • Both reduce discomfort and are rewarding.
     • Food is primary reinforce, 'feeder' becomes secondary reinforcer.
   • Strengths
     • We do learn through conditioning, although food is not the only factor (attention and responsiveness are also important).
   • Limitations
     • Harlow showed that food is less important than contact comfort.
     • Supported by Schaffer and Emerson (1964) who found infants not necessarily attached to the adult that fed them.

2. Bowlby's Theory

   • Attachment is adaptive and innate related to imprinting (for survival).
   • Sensitive period for development of attachment, as with all biological systems.
   • Caregiving is also innate and adaptive, aided by social releasers.
   • Secure base provided for exploration,
   • Primary attachment most important (monotopy) but secondary attachments are also important.
   • Internal working model develops based on primary attachment relationship.
   • Continuity hypothesis
     • link between early attachment and later social/emotional development.
   • Strengths
     • Imprinting on animals e.g. Lorenz
     • Sensitive period e.g. Hodges and Tizard
     • Universality of attachment e.g. Tronick et al
     • Monotropy (primary attachments) e.g. Shaffer and Emerson
     • Caregiver sensitivity e.g. Harlow
     • Continuity hypothesis e.g. Sroufe et al
   • Limitations
     • Other attachments, e.g. father and siblings, but still may be primary and secondary attachments.
     • Temperament hypothesis offers an alternative explanation, supported by Belsky and Rovine
   • Individual differences
     • Different types of attachment -secure and insecure.
   • Cultural variations
     • Attachment may lead to dependence rather than independence in some cultures.
   • Applications
     • Parenting programmes, dealing with separation and day care.