1. ATTACHMENT A reciprocal emotional relationship Shaffer- “A close emotional relationship between two persons, characterised by mutual affection, and a desire to maintain proximity” Relationship/link between you and your family, friends and partners See quote by Mary Ainsworth (1970, page 34)

2. BENEFITS CONSEQUENCES Food and care Protection Education in survival Shapes long-term relationships Security may affect romantic relationships Friendship Relationship with own children

3. Evaluation OTHER EXPERINCES This could affect future relationships e.g. divorce of parents, moving home/school frequently. Adult experiences within the relationship. INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES Temperament rather than experience may affect our relationships, a ‘difficult’ infant may result in poor attachment and then poor relationships

4. What are the theories of attachment? Learning theory A group of explanations (classical and operant) which explain behaviour in terms of learning or learnt behaviour (or nurture) Classical conditioning Operant conditioning Evolutionary theory Explains that behaviour is innate or natural and due to evolution Innate Sensitive period Social releasers Monotropy Internal working model Continuity hypothesis

5. Learning theory All behaviour (including attachment) is learnt rather than inborn Children are born as blank slates What children become is due to their life experiences Behaviourists put these theories forward Behaviour is learned by classical or operant conditioning

6. Classical conditioning..... Learning by association, i.e. making links with an experience Ivan Pavlov, research on the salivation of dogs Each time dogs fed = salivated Dogs started salivating before feeding Dogs associated the sound of the door with food Dogs learned a new stimulus response (S-R)

7. Explaining classical conditioning... Food (UCS – unconditioned stimulus) = produces a sense of pleasure (UCR - unconditioned reflex) During conditioning = door opens and food given at the same time

8. Explaining classical conditioning in babies..... Milk is an UCS (unconditioned stimulus) which naturally provides an UCR (unconditioned reflex) in the baby of pleasure at relief from hunger. The reflex response is automatic and it not learned. Person who feeds the baby becomes associated with food; a CS (conditioned stimulus) The ‘feeder’ produces pleasure that the baby associates with food. This pleasure is learned or a CR (conditioned response)

9. Operant conditioning..... Learning occurs when we are rewarded for doing something Skinner’s work with cats and rats – Skinner boxes = food as a reward What is the difference between positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement?

10. Operant conditioning..... Positive reinforcement - Each time you do something and it results in a pleasant consequence = reward Reward = Reinforced behaviour = repeated behaviour = reward Negative reinforcement – when a behaviour switches off something unpleasant, will be repeated, e.g. Baby crying = caregiver cuddles

11. Operant conditioning..... Behaviour that result in an unpleasant consequence = punishment Punishment = behaviour not repeated

12. Explaining operant conditioning in babies..... Dollard and Miller (1950) Hungary baby feels discomfort = crying = caregiver aims to reduce discomfort = feeds Baby is fed = reduces discomfort = stops crying Food = primary reinforcer because it reinforces the behaviour (crying) reduces discomfort The person who reduces discomfort = secondary reinforcer Attachment (or bond) occurs when the baby seeks a person to provide food = person reciprocates