Review of learning theory and evolutionary theory

Task Write down the statements in your own notes and decide which correspond to learning theory and which match with evolutionary theory.

1. Attachment is a learned process. 2. Classical and operant conditioning are involved in attachment formation. 3. Attachment is innate. 4. Babies become attached to the person who feeds them. 5. Mothers and babies are genetically pre-programmed to form attachments. 6. Caregiver sensitivity is a key concept in this explanation. 7. The attachment with the person who provides the baby’s food is reinforced through the food. 8. Babies have an innate tendency to become attached to one particular adult. 9. Infants must form an attachment between 7 months and 36 months otherwise they’ll have difficulties forming relationships later in life. 10. One of the strengths of this explanation is that it has a lot of empirical research to support it. 11. One weakness of this explanation is that research shows many babies do not form their first attachment with their mother. 12. One weakness of this explanation is that the person to whom the baby first attaches is not always the person who feeds them. 13. One weakness of this explanation is that it is reductionist and oversimplifies complex human behaviour.

Task Watch the clip below and answer the 7 questions in your booklet NrHUHUhttp:// NrHUHU

Task Using pages 56/57 of your textbook, complete the details of the aims, findings and conclusions of Ainsworth’s Strange Situation study Draw pictures to illustrate the procedure and fill in the gaps (see next slide for examples)

Draw pictures to illustrate the procedure of the Strange Situation.

Task Complete the table using the information on the next PowerPoint N.B. The information is not in the right order, you will need to use your textbook to help you

Match the behaviour patterns below to the correct attachment type. Happy to explore environment independently (uses mother as secure base) Minimal separation anxiety (feel assured caregiver will return) Low separation anxiety (little distress at mother’s departure) Infant alternates between seeking closeness and wanting distance at reunion Avoids contact with mother at reunion (does not seek comfort on mother’s return) High stranger anxiety (not comforted by stranger) Welcomes mother back on return and seeks comfort at reunion High stranger anxiety (but some infants can be comforted) High separation anxiety but not easily comforted on mother’s return Low stranger anxiety (rejects stranger’s attempts to comfort them) Happy to explore environment (keeps distance from mother) Low willingness to explore environment

Homework Make your own revision notes on the description of Ainsworth’s study