Attachment: explanations of attachment -learning theory

Question 1

What does the learning theory state?

Answer 1

Attachment is learnt through classical conditioning and maintained through operant conditioning

Question 2

Who came up with this theory?

Answer 2

Dollard and Miller

Question 3

What did Dollard and Miller say about attachments?

Answer 3

Attachments are based off the caregiver who feeds and offers food for the infant

Question 4

how is classical conditioning used in the forming of attachments according to Dollard and millers theory?

Answer 4

.unconditioned stimulus (UCS) of food produces an unconditioned response (UCR) feeling of pleasure
.the caregiver, a neutral stimulus (NS), is paired with food (UCS) and is associated with the UCS .NS becomes a conditioned stimulus (CS), and produces pleasure, a conditioned response (CR) in the baby even without food

Question 5

how is operant conditioning used in the forming of attachment according to Dollard and millers theory?

Answer 5

.crying is reinforced because it produces caregiver response (feeding) -this positively reinforces infant behaviours because the baby associates crying with being rewarded by feeding

Question 6

why is attachments a secondary drive according to Dollard and millers theory?

Answer 6

.attachment is a secondary drive learned by association of caregiver with hunger satisfaction (primary drive)

Question 7

What was a strength to their theory?

Answer 7

Elements of conditions may be right but it’s not solely focused on food

Question 8

What were some of the negatives of this theory?

Answer 8

.animal studies -harlows study proves that attachment is not based off caregiver who offers food yet they prefer comfort contact
.human studies -shaffer and emerson, attachment to primary caregiver is based off of who meets the needs of the infant the most (sensitive responsiveness)