explanations of attachment: learning theory

Question 1

who proposed that caregiver-infant interaction can be explained by the learning theory

Answer 1

dollard & miller

Question 2

what is this theory also known as

Answer 2

‘cupboard love’ approach

Question 3

what does this theory emphasise

Answer 3

importance of attachment figure as provider of food

Question 4

describe how we can use classical conditioning to explain attachment

Answer 4

bottle of milk (US) –> happy baby (UR)
bottle of milk (US) + mother (NS) –> happy baby (UR)
mother (CS) –> happy baby (CR)

Question 5

how can we use operant conditioning to explain attachment - negative reinforcement

Answer 5

baby
1. baby feels discomfort as they’re hungry, so they cry
2. mother feeds baby & removes discomfort
3. discomfort removed = negative reinforcement

mother
1. baby cries
2. baby fed
3. crying stops = negative reinforcement

Question 6

what is hunger an example of

Answer 6

primary reinforcer

Question 6

what’s a primary drive

Answer 6

innate, biological motivator

Question 7

what did robert sears et. al (1957) suggest

Answer 7

as the caregivers provide food, the primary drive of hunger becomes generalised to them

Question 7

what is attachment & what is it learnt by

Answer 7

a secondary reinforcer learnt by association between caregiver & satisfaction of primary drive

Question 7

example of drive reduction

Answer 7

being fed

Question 7

evaluation of learning theory explanation for attachment AO3

Answer 7

-)
P: lack of support from studies conducted on animals
E: eg. lorenz/harlow showed that geese formed an attachment without being given food due to imprinting. also, harlow highlighted how contact comfort from the mother was more important than the food from the wired mother
T: suggest food isn’t an important factor when forming an attachment

-)
P: lack of support from studies of human babies
E: eg. schaffer & emerson found the baby formed attachments, specifically to the mother 1st, to their primary caregiver (1st specific attachment) without reference to food in the research
T: suggests food isn’t an important factor when forming an attachment & reduces validity of learning theory as an explanation for attachment

+)
P: practical application offered by social learning theory
E: eg. hay & vespo (1988) suggests that parents can model attachment behaviours (eg. hugging) when teaching behaviours to children
T: increases external validity due to practical application within society & increases value as an explanation for attachment