Lecture Notes: Attachment Theories in Psychology

Introduction

• Importance of attachment between infant and primary caregiver (usually the biological mother).
• Two main perspectives on attachment:
  • Biological: Attachment is innate.
  • Behaviorist: Attachment is learned, primarily through feeding.

Biological Perspective

• Attachment bond is seen as innate.
• Babies inherently need to attach to caregivers.
• Caregivers have a natural instinct to care for infants.

Behaviorist Perspective

• Behaviorist view: Babies are primarily driven by the need for food.
• Attachment is learned through classical and operant conditioning.

Cupboard Love Theory

• Classical Conditioning:
  • Babies associate the caregiver (neutral stimulus) with food (unconditioned stimulus).
  • Over time, the caregiver becomes a conditioned stimulus, leading to pleasure (conditioned response).
  • Pavlov's dog experiment as an example.
• Operant Conditioning:
  • Positive reinforcement: Infant cries and receives milk, reinforcing crying.
  • Negative reinforcement: Parents are reinforced to stop crying by providing care.
• Primary vs. Secondary Drives:
  • Primary drives: Instinctual needs (e.g., hunger, thirst).
  • Secondary drives: Learned associations that satisfy primary drives.

Critiques of Behaviorist Perspective

• Environmental Reductionism: Too simplistic; does not account for emotional and conscious decisions in caregiving.
• Harlow's Study: Monkeys preferred comfort over food, suggesting the need for comfort.
• Suggests an instinctual need for comfort rather than food.

Biological Explanation: Bowlby's Monotropic Theory

• Evolutionary perspective: Strong bond with primary caregiver is crucial for survival.
• Monotropy: Strong bond usually with the mother.
• Innate Behaviors: Crying, smiling, vocalizing to attract caregiver's attention.
• Critical Period:
  • Inspired by Lorenz's imprinting studies; first 30 months are crucial for attachment.
  • Failure to form attachment can lead to lasting developmental impacts.
• Internal Working Model: Early relationships shape future relationship expectations.

Evaluations of Bowlby's Theory

• Influence: Significantly impacted early child care practices and understanding of attachment.
• Criticism:
  • Gender biases present in Bowlby’s view.
  • Modern family dynamics challenge the concept of monotropy.
  • Determinism vs. individual agency in relationship outcomes.
• Recovery from Deprivation: Studies show recovery is possible, questioning rigid critical period.

Conclusion

• Bowlby’s work paved the way for future research and reshaped childcare practices.
• Both biological and behaviorist perspectives provide valuable insights but have their limitations.

Additional Resources

• Mention of resources available for more in-depth study, including videos and tutorial materials on attachment and other psychology topics.

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Note: This summary covers essential highlights and evaluations of attachment theories, making it a useful study tool for understanding psychological perspectives on infant-caregiver relationships.