A: Learning Theory Of Attachment

Question 1

What does learning theory suggest?

Answer 1

All infants are born as blank slates and all behaviour is learned rather than innate.

(Nurture, not nature)

Also referred to as ‘cupboard love theory’
as infant attached to caregiver as it leans that the caregiver will meet their physiological (nutritional) needs

Question 2

What is classical conditioning?

Answer 2

Learning through association

Child learns to associate their caregiver with their needs being met, forming an attachment.

Food stimulus provides pleasure

before UCS (food)—> UCR (happy)
during NS (mother)+ UCS —> UCR
after conditioning
CS (mother) —> CR (happy baby)

Question 3

What is operant conditioning?

Answer 3

Learning through actions and consequences (reinforcers)

e.g. in attachment

baby performs ———> receives
action: crying reward
(food)

•the reward reinforces the action so the baby repeats it
•attachment forms as baby associated mother with rewards

Question 4

Skinner

Answer 4

Operant conditioning

-placed hungry rat in ‘Skinner box’
-accidentally pressed lever and receives food pellet
-reward reinforces behaviour and rat repeats

Question 5

Social learning theory

Answer 5

Learning through observation, imitation, and modelling of another person/role model.

Question 6

What is vicarious reinforcement?

Answer 6

Learning though observation of CONSEQUENCE/punishment/reward

Question 7

Pavlov

Answer 7

CLASSICAL CONDITIONING

-dogs salivated when presented with food (UCS)
-Pavlov repeatedly paired with the sound of a bell (NS)
-dogs began to salivate at sound of bell alone (CS)

Question 8

Evaluation of learning theory
Non human animals research

Answer 8

Limitation

Learning theory primarily based on research with non human animals

E.g. classical conditioning based on Pavlov’s work with dogs and operant conditioning based off of Skinner’s work with rats

Extrapolation issues, may be over simplistic to apply simplistic theory of stimulus and response to an issue as complex as attachment

Suggesting learning theories may lack validity when explaining attachment

Question 9

A03 of learning theory
Not a full explanation

Answer 9

Some explanatory power

Studies suggest infants do learn through association and reinforcement but attention and caregiver responsiveness as suggested by Schaffer and Emerson may be more important in the formation of attachment

Contributes but not full explanation

Question 10

A03: contact comfort

Answer 10

Contact comfort more important than food

Harlow’s monkey study
Preferred spending time with cloth mother even though it didn’t always have the food

Suggests that attachment is based more on emotional comfort and security than on the provision of food, which challenges the learning theory’s emphasis on food as the primary reinforcer in attachment formation

Question 11

A03: alternative explanation

Answer 11

Bowlby’s montropic theory
Primary attachment figure
Evolutionary explanation
Attachment is innate and a survival advantage
Imprinting and attachment evolved to ensure young animals stay close to caregiver