Learning Theory (Behaviourist)
Attachment AO1
- Classical conditioning – unconditioned
stimulus (caregiver) associated with
neutral stimulus (food) to become
conditioned stimulus
Caregiver-Infant Interactions
- Operant conditioning – crying behaviour
- Reciprocity – 3 months – negative reinforcement for caregiver,
- Interactional synchrony – 2 weeks positive reinforcement for baby
- Attachment is a secondary drive through
association with food
Schaffer’s Stages
- Asocial - first few weeks – objects
Bowlby’s Monotropic Theory
- Indiscriminant – 2-7 months – no
stranger anxiety - Monotropy – one attachment more
- Specific – stranger and separation important
anxiety, primary attachment figure - Social releasers – innate cute behaviour
- Multiple – more than one figure elicits a care response
- Schaffer & Emerson – self reports by 60 - Critical period = 6 months-2 years
Glaswegian mothers - Internal working model – template for
future relationships
Role of the Father
Types of Attachment
3
- Schaffer & Emerson – 75% ( ) attach by
4 - 7-stage controlled observation
18 months, 3% primary attachment - Proximity seeking, secure base,
- Distinctive role in play and stimulation exploration, stranger/separation anxiety,
- Primary caregiver fathers more response upon reunion
responsive than second caregivers - Secure – enthusiastic greeting, moderate
anxiety
- Avoidant – avoids reunion, low anxiety
Animal Studies - Resistant – resists reunion, high anxiety
Lorenz
- Gosling chicks imprinted on him Cultural Variations
- Sexual imprinting in birds (peacocks)
- Van Ijzendoorn & Kroonenberg – more
Harlow variation within than between cultures in
8 countries
- Baby Rhesus monkeys given plain cloth or
- Attachment is innate and universal –
wire mothers
secure is the norm
- Clung to cloth mother regardless of milk
- Culture affects rates of attachment types
- Maternally deprived -> socially
- Korean/Japanese – similar avoidant rates
dysfunctional
since similar parenting styles
- Critical period = 90 days
Attachment AO1
- Classical conditioning – unconditioned
stimulus (caregiver) associated with
neutral stimulus (food) to become
conditioned stimulus
Caregiver-Infant Interactions
- Operant conditioning – crying behaviour
- Reciprocity – 3 months – negative reinforcement for caregiver,
- Interactional synchrony – 2 weeks positive reinforcement for baby
- Attachment is a secondary drive through
association with food
Schaffer’s Stages
- Asocial - first few weeks – objects
Bowlby’s Monotropic Theory
- Indiscriminant – 2-7 months – no
stranger anxiety - Monotropy – one attachment more
- Specific – stranger and separation important
anxiety, primary attachment figure - Social releasers – innate cute behaviour
- Multiple – more than one figure elicits a care response
- Schaffer & Emerson – self reports by 60 - Critical period = 6 months-2 years
Glaswegian mothers - Internal working model – template for
future relationships
Role of the Father
Types of Attachment
3
- Schaffer & Emerson – 75% ( ) attach by
4 - 7-stage controlled observation
18 months, 3% primary attachment - Proximity seeking, secure base,
- Distinctive role in play and stimulation exploration, stranger/separation anxiety,
- Primary caregiver fathers more response upon reunion
responsive than second caregivers - Secure – enthusiastic greeting, moderate
anxiety
- Avoidant – avoids reunion, low anxiety
Animal Studies - Resistant – resists reunion, high anxiety
Lorenz
- Gosling chicks imprinted on him Cultural Variations
- Sexual imprinting in birds (peacocks)
- Van Ijzendoorn & Kroonenberg – more
Harlow variation within than between cultures in
8 countries
- Baby Rhesus monkeys given plain cloth or
- Attachment is innate and universal –
wire mothers
secure is the norm
- Clung to cloth mother regardless of milk
- Culture affects rates of attachment types
- Maternally deprived -> socially
- Korean/Japanese – similar avoidant rates
dysfunctional
since similar parenting styles
- Critical period = 90 days
