Explanations for attachment: Learning Theory

Question 1

What does Dollard and Miller’s learning theory outline?

Answer 1

-That attachment is learnt through providing the child with food - the child loves whoever feeds them

Question 2

Outline how classical conditioning in learning theory creates attachment?

Answer 2

-Classical condtioning: being fed (UCS) gives us pleasure (UCR) and then the baby associates caregiver (NS) with food so that the caregiver also ilicites reaction of pleasure(CR)

Question 3

Outline how operant conditioning in learning theory creates attachment

Answer 3

-Operant conditioning: baby is positively reinforced to cry as it brings a positive reaction from mother who comforts the baby and feeds him. This is a two way process as caregiver gets negative reinforcement as crying stops

Question 4

What did Robert Sears et al. (1957) suggest?

Answer 4

• hunger is a primary drive and as caregivers provide food the drive is generalised to them and therefore attachment is a secondary drive deriving from the satisfaction of the primary drive-food

Question 5

What are the strengths of learning theory as an explanation for attachment?

Answer 5

-Some form of conditioning involved: unlikely food plays a central role but children may associate ( conditioning) comfort with an adult which may shape a baby’s choice of attachment figure. This means that learning theory may still be useful in understanding attachment, but food is not the unconditioned response.
However, Learning theory sees the baby as playing a relatively passive role in attachment development, simply responding to associations with comfort or reward. Yet, researcher by Feldman and Eidelman found that babies play an active role in interactions which produce attachment. This means that conditioning may not be an adequate explanation for attachment.

Question 6

What are the weaknesses of learning theory as an explanation for attachment?

Answer 6

-counter evidence from animal studies: In Harlow’s research monkeys did not care which mother provided milk and displayed attachment to soft model mother. This means that attachment in animals is not by food, but by comfort. Therefore, animal studies do not show any importance towards food being the cause of attachment.

Counter evidence from human studies: Schaffer and Emerson found that babies tended to form their main attachment with their mother regardless of if she usually fed them. Isabella found that high levels of interactional synchrony is associated with attachment. These factors are not involved with food. This suggests that food is not the main factor in the formulation in attachment.