Attachment - learning theory

Question 1

what is learning theory

Answer 1

• set of theories from the behaviourist approach
• emphasise the role of learning in the acquisition of behaviour

Question 2

what is classical conditioning in learning theory

Answer 2

• learning to associate two stimuli together
• food is unconditioned stimulus
• being fed gives pleasure - unconditioned response
• caregiver - neutral stimulus
• neutral stimulus becomes conditioned stimulus - associated mother with food
• caregiver produces a conditioned response of pleasure for the baby
• attachment is formed and the caregiver becomes the attachment figure

Question 3

what is operant conditioning in learning theory

Answer 3

• learning from the consequence of behaviour
• crying leads to a response from the caregiver
• when correct response given the crying is reinforced
• baby directs crying for comfort towards the caregiver who responds with comforting behaviour
• baby is reinforced for crying - caregiver receives negative reinforcement when the baby stops crying

Question 4

how is attachment a secondary drive

Answer 4

• hunger is the primary drive - innate, biological motivator
• as caregiver provides food the primary drive of hunger becomes generalised
• attachment is a secondary drive learned by an association between the caregiver and satisfaction of a primary drive

Question 5

what are the strengths of learning theory

Answer 5

• unlikely food is a central role but conditioning may be
• baby can associate a warm feeling with the presence of a particular adult - influence the main attachment figure

Question 6

what are the limitations of learning theory

Answer 6

• lack of support for studies conducted on animals
• Harlow showed the importance of contact comfort
• may be other factors that are important in the association with forming an attachment
• lack of support on human babies
• Schaffer and Emerson found that babies form the primary attachment to mothers regardless if she feeds them or not
• Isabella found high levels of synchrony predicted the quality of attachment
• food isn’t the main factor in the formation of human attachments