Explanations for Attachment - Learning Theory Flashcards
What is learning theory
A set of theories from the behaviourist approach to psychology, that emphasise the role of learning in acquisition of behaviour.
Explanations for learning of behaviour include classical condtionioning and operant conditioning.
Explain learning theory concept
Dollard and Miller 1950
proposed that caregiver-infant attachment can be explained by learning theory. Their approach is sometimes called ‘cupboard love’ approach because it emphasises the importanse of the caregiver as a provider of food.
arrows
Explain classical conditioning of attachment (simple)
UCS (food) -> UCR (pleasure)
NS (mother) -> No response
UCS + NS -> UCR
CS (mother) -> CR (pleasure)
UCR - unconditioned response
UCS - unconditioned stimulus,
UCR - unconditioned response,
NS - neutral stimulus,
CS - conditioned stimulus,
CR - conditioned response
(Longer) Explanation of classical conditioning
Classical conditioning involves learning to associate two stimuli together so that we begin to respond to one in the same way as we already respond to another.
Pavlov’s dogs
What is operant conditioning of infants
crying is postively reinforced by attention
what is operant conditioning of caregivers
Attention is negatively reinforced by cessation of crying
Explain operant conditioning
a process of learning to repeat behaviours or avoiding repeating behaviours behaviours depending on the consequences.
If a behaviour produces a pleasant consequence, that behaviour is likely to be repeated again, it is reinforced.
If a behaviour produces an unpleasant consequence it is less likely to be repeated.
The reinforcement is a two way process, the interplay of mutual reinforcement strengthens an attachment.
Explain operant conditioning
a process of learning to repeat behaviours or avoiding repeating behaviours behaviours depending on the consequences.
If a behaviour produces a pleasant consequence, that behaviour is likely to be repeated again, it is reinforced.
If a behaviour produces an unpleasant consequence it is less likely to be repeated.
The reinforcement is a two way process, the interplay of mutual reinforcement strengthens an attachment.
define secondary drive
A hypothesis to describe the processes of learning an attachment through operant and classical conditioning. It explains how primary drives (things essential for survival eg. hunger), become associated with secondary drives such as emotional closeness.
weakness - research
Evaluate learning theory
Schaffer and Emerson - found less than half of the infants has a primary attachment to the person who usually fed them.
Harlow’s reseach found the monkey’s became attached to the soft surrogate mother rather than the one who fed it.
Lorenz found that the goslings imprinted on the first moving object they saw suggesitng that attachment is innate not learned.
strength
Evaluate learning thoery
Provides useful information as it explains that infants learn through association and reinforcement. Attention and responsiveness from a caregiver and sensitivity to the child’s needsa allows an attachment to be formed. The sensitivity of the primary caregiver is then reflected in the infant as an adult.
Weakness
Evaluate learning theory
It could be said to be overly spimplistic as it ignores other factors affecting attachment such as reciprocity, sensitivity, and innate qualities that could also influence an attachment.
