Explanations: Learning Theory

Question 1

Behaviourist approach

Answer 1

We learn to form an attachment thru operant and classical conditioning. Mainly thru who provides us with food

Question 2

Classical conditioning

Answer 2

this is where the child is fed by the mother and feels the pleasure of being fed and as mother is there everytime they’re fed they slowly associate the mother with food so they are happier everytime they see their mother

Question 3

Operant conditioning

Answer 3

The child will carry out an action such as crying and the mother will trigger a response so feed the child. The child will then associate the food as the reward and so will cry to relieve the reward

Question 4

AO3

Answer 4

• contradictory evidence from Harlow as comfort more important than food
• contradictory evidence from human studies where it is found that interactional synchrony and reciprocity is more important as child forms attachment to who is most attentive so food isn’t rlly primary reinforce in mist cases
• The focus on unconditioned and conditioned stimuli means that there is a loss of focus.
  Interactional synchrony and reciprocity are both universal features of attachment and should be
  treated as such, as demonstrated by Feldman and Brazleton. Learning theory does not account
  for these aspects and so is a limited explanation of only some aspects of attachment formation.