Learning Theory

Question 1

What is Learning Theory?

Answer 1

The idea that children form an attachment to whomever feeds them as a result of conditioning, both operant and classical.

Question 2

How can Classical Conditioning be applied to attachment?

Answer 2

The primary caregiver (initially the neutral stimulus) is paired by the infant with food, which produces the unconditioned response of pleasure. Via this association, the primary caregiver also begins to produce the same, conditioned response of pleasure, causing an attachment to be formed.

Question 3

How can Operant Conditioning be applied to attachment?

Answer 3

Positive Reinforcement- the infant is conditioned to cry when hungry as they’ll receive the reward of being fed

Negative Reinforcement- the caregiver is conditioned to feed the infant when they cry in order to escape the unpleasantry of them crying

Question 4

What is the primary drive in Learning Theory and why?

Answer 4

Hunger, as it is innate and biological

Question 5

What is the secondary drive in Learning Theory and why?

Answer 5

Attachment, as it isn’t innate and is learnt due to satisfaction of the primary drive reduction (hunger) it entails

Question 6

Who proposed the Learning Theory of attachment?

Answer 6

Dollard & Miller

Question 7

What studies support learning via conditioning? (2 Examples)

Answer 7

• Pavlov’s Dog-Bell Study (Classical Conditioning)
• Skinner’s Rat Study (Operant Conditioning)

Question 8

Which animal study does not support Learning Theory of attachment?

Answer 8

Harlow’s Monkey Study, as he found ‘contact comfort’ was more important than food in terms of attachment

Question 9

What percentage of infants did Schaffer & Emerson find weren’t attached to the caregiver primarily involved in feeding them?

Answer 9

39%

Question 10

What does research suggest may actually facilitate attachment instead of food?

Answer 10

Infant-Caregiver interactions and contact comfort