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Attachment

Psychology A: History and Analysis of Selected Topics
LO3 Developmental Processes

‘the reason why the infant in arms wants to perceive the presence of its mother is only because it already knows by experience that she satisfies all needs without delay'
(Freud, 1924)

The term attachment refers to an intense emotional relationship between individuals. Freud believed that attachments were formed with those who satisfy our material needs. This theory is referred to as ‘cupboard love' theory. Behaviourist psychologists support this theory, arguing that attachments are formed through the process of classical conditioning, where babies learn that mothers supply food, which makes them feel satisfied and eventual associate their mothers with the feeling of satisfaction without food being required. Many psychologists have researched this topic in order to understand why and how attachments are made, if it can be as simple as simple as Freud and the behaviourists claimed. They have also examined what the effects of forming attachments and what are the consequences of not forming these relationships.

One study which challenged the ‘cupboard love' theory was H.F. Harlow's study ‘Love in infant monkeys'. This study was conducted in 1959 as a laboratory experiment.

Eight rhesus monkeys were separated from their mothers within hours of their birth. Each monkey was given two substitute ‘mothers'. One was made of cloth, the other made of wire. Half the monkeys received milk from the cloth mother while the other half received milk from the wire mother. All of the monkeys however spent the majority of their time with the cloth mother, only going to the wire mother for milk when and if required. Harlow also frightened the monkey occasionally with loud mechanical toys. When this happened again all the monkeys sought comfort from the cloth mother. From the study Harlow concluded that physical contact was more important than feeding in the development of emotional...