explanations of attachment: learning theory ao3

Question 1

Limitation of learning theory of attachment - counter evidence from animal studies

Answer 1

P: Alimitation of the cupboard love theory is counter evidence from animal studies
E; for example lorens geese imprinted before getting fed and hallows rhesus monkeys sped more time with cloth mother as opposed to wire mother regardless of who was feeding them.
E; This weakens the claim that the provider of food is the one who the infant forms an attachment with and who the infant sees to be the caregiver. So therefore food isn’t the most important thing where forming attachments is concerned but rather comfort and security
L; so therefore these animal studies refute the learning theirues claims that food and satisficsruin of primary drive is not extremely significant in forming attachments but comfort.

Question 2

Limitation of learning theory of attachment - hunan studies

Answer 2

P; one limitation is Schaffer and Emerson’s research in 1964
E; they found that babies tended to form their main attachment to the mother regardless of whether she was the one to provide food which is seen as paramount to forming attachments in the cupboard love theory’s
Furthermore another study Isabella eat al 1989 found that high levels of interactional synchrony predicted the quality of attachment not the food given
E; none of these studies point to food being a main factor in human attachments weakening this theory.
L; therefore human studies provide evidence refuting the cupboard love theory and its conclusion that food is a main factor in coming attachments

Question 3

Strength of learning theory of attachment -
based on an established theory

Answer 3

P: the learning theory is based on an established theory - behaviourism
E: this is very well researched and based on scientific principles. eg skinners research on OC done in highly controlled settings so cause and effect rel established. additionally the focus on stim and res associations allows the central concepts in the theory to be easily investigated and observed.
E: so thus applying this concept to attachment beh makes it a plausible explanation
L: thus the learning theory of attachment provides a clear explanation on the mechanism of attachments are formed through emphasis on role of environmental factors.

Question 4

Counterpoint for support for the importance of conditioning

Answer 4

P; However both oc and cc see the baby as passive in attachment development simply responding to associations eg positive reinforcement in receiving reward
E: However there is plenty of research showing babies playing an active role in producing their attachments with caregivers
E: Feldman 2007 found from around 3 months interaction between mother and baby becomes increasingly frequent involving close attention to each others facial expressions.
Meltzoff and Moore - an association between gestures displayed by adults and babies whereby babies copied
L; so conditioning may not be an adequate explanation for the development of attachment weakening the claims of one of the central ideas in the theory