Theory of Attachment (Bowlby) - ATTACHMENT

Question 1

what are the ideas in the learning theory based off

Answer 1

the behaviourist approach

Question 2

what do behaviourists believe

Answer 2

that we are born as ‘blank slates’ and that everything can be explained in terms of experiences we have

Question 3

what do behaviourists tend to focus on

Answer 3

they focus on explanations of behaviour (what people do) rather than what’s going on in minds

Question 4

how do behaviourists argue that all behaviour is learnt

Answer 4

through classical and operant conditioning

Question 5

what does conditioning mean

Answer 5

to learn

Question 6

what does the theory attachment suggest about children’s attachment

Answer 6

that children learn to love whoever feeds them

Question 7

steps in classical conditioning for attachment

Answer 7

STEP 1: food (UCS) –> baby feels pleasure (UCR to food)
mother (NS) –> baby doesn’t respond (no response)
STEP 2: mother (NS) + food (UCS) –> baby feels pleasure (UCR to food)
STEP 3: mother (CS) –> baby feels pleasure (CR to mother)

Question 8

steps in classical conditioning for a phobia of snakes

Answer 8

STEP 1: bite (UCS) –> fear (UCR)
snake (NS) –> person doesn’t respond (no response)
STEP 2: snake (NS) + bite (UCS) –> fear (UCR to bite)
STEP 3: snake (CS) –> fear (CR to snake)

Question 9

what is operant conditioning

Answer 9

learning to repeat, or not, behaviour depending on it’s consequences
(if behaviour produces pleasant consequence, likely to be repeated - been reinforced)

Question 10

what is positive reinforcement

Answer 10

increases the likelihood of a behaviour being repeated because it involves a reward for the behavior

Question 11

what is negative reinforcement

Answer 11

increases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated because it involves the removal of, or escape from unpleasant consequences

Question 12

positive reinforcement example (baby and mother)

Answer 12

baby performs action: cries –> baby receives reward: food relieves hunger
- the reward REINFORCES the action, so the baby REPEATS it

Question 13

negative reinforcement example (baby and mother)

Answer 13

baby cries and mum performs action: feeding and cuddling –> mum receives reward: baby stops crying
- the removal of distress REINFORCES the action, so the mum REPEATS it

Question 14

what did Dollard and Miller (1950) say about conditioning and attachment

Answer 14

drive reduction - argues when we feel discomfort, it creates a drive to reduce it

Question 15

what is a primary reinforcer

Answer 15

something that directly supplies a reward

Question 16

what is a secondary reinforcer

Answer 16

something that is associated with the primary reinforcer

Question 17

example of a primary reinforcer

Answer 17

food

Question 18

example of a secondary reinforcer

Answer 18

caregiver/mother who supplied the food - is associated with food and becomes secondary reinforcer

Question 19

how does the infant become attached to the caregiver/mother who feeds them

Answer 19

the secondary reinforcer becomes a source of reward

Question 20

how might the social learning theory be used to explain attachment

Answer 20

we might observe role models, with whom we identify being rewarded for caring behaviours

Question 21

what does the mediational process of modelling allow

Answer 21

vicarious reinforcement

Question 22

what is vicarious reinforcement

Answer 22

learning through observation of consequences to actions from other people

Question 23

what does imitation result in

Answer 23

direct reinforcement