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Attachment - Coggle Diagram
Attachment
Animal studies
Lorenz (1935) Imprinting study on goslings: Imprinting is the process by which young animals follow & form an attachment to the 1st large moving object they meet. Consequences for short term and long term survival - if no attachment has been formed in 32 hours it is unlikely any attachment will ever develop.
12 eggs were used, he split a clutch of eggs and left half with the mother (control) who behaved normally e.g interacted with own species. Took the other half, incubated them & offered himself as the model for imprinting - they followed him & failed to recognise own species. Also put all 12 in a box, marked his own, assistant turnt over box and his geese ran to him whereas the others ran to the mother.
In conclusion the ability to respond to the 1st moving object is innate and the process of imprinting is genetically determined, not a learnt behaviour.
Harlow (1958) study on maternal deprivation: he wanted to study how newborn rhesus monkeys bond to their mothers. Highly dependant on the mother as they're altricial animals - like humans. Aim was to determine whether food or comfort is more important for attachment.
16 rhesus monkeys were separated from mother at birth. Individually raised in a small cage. 4 groups: 1 - 4 monkeys where cloth mother provides food, wire does not. 2: wire monkey provides food, cloth does not. 3: wire produces food. 4: cloth produces food. Infants spend more time with cloth mother, regardless of food. Monkeys with only wire showed signs of stress. When frightened all went to cloth mother. Explored more when with cloth mother.
In conclusion, the results suggest that comfort is more important than food. Rhesus monkeys have a biological pre-programmed need for contact comfort.
Evaluation: low ecological validity, not generalisable, unethical, practical applications, high reliability.
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Monotropic theory
Believes that attachment behaviours serve an evolutionary advantage & are genetic. Nature NOT nurture. Attachment is a set of behaviours that have aided our survival.
Attachment is monotropic (one person). Innate and adaptive, babies born with social releases and attachment inducing behaviours e.g crying for attention. Monotropic attachment has a critical period which according to Bowlby is 2.5 years. It also forms our Internal Working Model.
Evaluation: Supporting evidence for critical period (Lorenz), Support is animal studies :(, real world applications, alternative explanations.
Operant conditioning
A negative reinforcer is a behaviour that increases behaviours by removing negative stimuli or consequences. A primary reinforcer is a natural reaction to a stimulus e.g water. Secondary reinforcer is a stimulus that becomes reinforcing after pairing with PR.
Food is a PR as it fulfills a biological need, caregiver becomes a SR as they provide the PR (food). So the child will seek proximity to the caregiver. When caregiver feeds the child - crying stops (undesirable action) which acts as a NR for the caregiver so in future the caregiver will feed the child when the crying starts as it rewards them.
Evaluations: research support (Schaffer & Emerson), research which refutes the fundamental ideas (Harlow), scientific theory, less valid explanation compared to others, environmentally reductionist.
Classical conditioning
Food automatically satisfies a baby's need = pleasure. Mother usually provides food therefore she becomes a source of pleasure as she has been associated with food due the repetitive behaviour of feeding.