Here are potential exam style answers: 1. Attachment refers to the emotional bond that develops between an infant and their primary caregiver/s. It is a two-way process that endures over time and serves to protect the infant. (2 marks) 2. The behavioural explanation of attachment (learning theory) views attachment as learned through reinforcement of the infant's behaviours. In contrast, the evolutionary perspective sees attachment as innate/inborn. Bowlby argued infants are born with an 'attachment gene' that drives them to form attachments to ensure survival through receiving care and protection from caregivers who are also driven by an 'attachment gene'. (4 marks) 3. Two limitations of the evolutionary perspective are:

1. Attachment
Definition:
•An emotional bond between 2 people
•2 way process that endures over time
•Serves the function of protecting the child

2. Objectives
Define the term attachment
Identify key words associated with
Bowlby’s Theory of attachment
Provide basic evaluation for Bowlby’s
theory of attachment
Write an exam style answer for the
Learning Theory of attachment

3. Explanations of Attachment
You need to know 2 explanations of
attachment
Learning Theory Bowlby’s Theory
Attachment is Attachment is
learned innate

4. Bowlby’s Theory
A01
Infants form
attachments
because it’s
adaptive Adaptive
= good for
survival
An infant displays social
Babies have an ‘attachment
gene’ releasers (such as
crying, smiling) which
- Ensuring the infant increase their chances
stays close to caregiver of receiving care
for food and protection

5. Bowlby’s Theory ContD…
A01
Parents also have an Which drives the
‘attachment gene’ parents to provide care
Parents are driven to provide
care for the infant while -this is also adaptive
they’re young and (increases chances of
defenceless – the critical genes continuing to
period the next generation)
Bowlby suggested that
infants make one main
attachment – called
monotropy

6. A01
Bowlby’s Theory
– beyond infancy
The first The attachment
relationship behaviours in
provides the the internal
infant with an working model
attachment continue to
template follow the same
template in the
future
Internal Continuity
working hypothesis
model

7. A01 Bowlby’s Theory
– key terms
Social Releasers
There’re loads – Attachment Gene
make sure they’re
in your Glossary Critical Period
and that you
KNOW them! Internal Working Model
Continuity Hypothesis
Monotropy

8. A02
Bowlby’s Theory – A02
Can you remember anything from
Learning Theory A02 that you can
apply to Bowlby’s theory?

9. A02 Bowlby’sTheory – Evaluation
Positive
Lorenz (1952)
Lorenz found that newly
hatched goose (after
seeing Lorenz shortly
after hatching) following
him everywhere and he
Why is that became their ‘imprinted
Positive parent’
criticism?!

10. A02 Bowlby’sTheory – Evaluation
Positive
Hazen & Conducted the ‘love quiz’
Shaver which assessed adult
romantic
relationships and
childhood
relationships and
Why is that found a strong
Positive correlation between
criticism?! the 2 attachment
types

11. A02 Bowlby’s Theory – Evaluation
Negative
Howes et al
(1994)
Found that parent-child
relationships were not
necessarily the same as
Why is that child-peer relationships
negative
criticism?!

12. A02 Bowlby’sTheory – Evaluation
Negative
This means that the
Post-hoc
theory is based on
assumptions made ‘after
the fact’
The theory looks
Why is that backwards and argues
Negative that specific behaviour is
criticism?! adaptive just because it
persists

13. Lorenz found that newly Hazen & Shaver
hatched goose (after Conducted the ‘love quiz’
which assessed adult
seeing Lorenz shortly
romantic relationships and
after hatching) following
childhood relationships and
him everywhere and he found a strong correlation
became their ‘imprinted between the 2 attachment
parent’ types
Howes et al
Post-hoc
Found that parent-
This means that the
child relationships
theory is based on
were not necessarily
assumptions made
the same as child-
‘after the fact’
peer relationships

14. In pairs write at least 15 key words
Key words that link to the Evolutionary
Theory of Attachment
Glossary
• Evolutionary Theory – Attachment is innate
• Social Releasers
• Attachment Gene
• Critical Period
• Internal Working Model
• Continuity Hypothesis
• Monotropy
• Hazen & Shaver
• Howes et al
• Post-hoc

15. Exam style questions
Have a go at the following questions
1. What is meant by the term attachment?
(2 marks)
2. Explain how the behavioural explanation of
attachment differs from the evolutionary
explanation of attachment. (4 marks)
3. Explain two limitations of the evolutionary
perspective explanation of attachment.
(2 marks + 2 marks)