Explanations of Attatchment (Learning theory) Flashcards
(15 cards)
What is the Learning theory
explains behaviour in terms of learning rather than regarding it as innate.
Suggests t children are born as ‘blank slates’
What is classical conditioning
learning through association
A neutral stimulus (NS) is consistently paired with an unconditioned stimulus (UCS) so that it eventually takes on the properties of this stimulus and so produces a conditioned response (CR)
According to classical conditioning how does the baby become attached to its through the caregiver’s provision of food
Food is the unconditioned stimulus (UCS).
Being fed satisfies hunger which is the unconditioned response
Caregiver is the neutral stimulus (NS) and after many pairings of the caregiver providing the baby’s food (UCS) and hence satisfying its hunger (UCR),
these two stimuli become associated. The baby has learnt to expect food from the caregiver who has now
become a conditioned stimulus (CS).
Baby will now feel positive emotions in the presence of the caregiver (CS) even when they are not providing food. These positive emotions are the conditioned response (CR).
What is operant conditioning
Learning through reinforcement/consequences
- If a behaviour has pleasant consequences, it’s likely to be repeated than if it does not
According to operant conditioning how does the baby become attached to its through the caregiver’s provision of food
Babies feel hunger - an innate, primary drive which is
unpleasant. This motivates them to eat - drive reduction
Babies cry (social releaser) to attract caregiver - crying has been +vely reinforced as it provides food
Food = primary reinforcer
Caregiver = secondary reinfrocer
What is positive reinforcement
rewarding a behaviour so its likely to be repeated
What is negative reinforcement
increases the likelihood of a behaviour by preventing an undesirable stimulus.
Why is a primary reinforcer
directly rewarding
Why is a secondary reinforcer
they lead to a reward (e.g loyalty cards)
What is a strength of learning theory as an explanation of attachment
Explanatory power
What are limitations of learning theory as an explanation of attachment
Contradiction of operant conditioning
Reductionistg
Contradicted by research (Harlow)
Evaluate explanatory power as a strength of Learning theory as an explanation of attachment
P: Has explanatory power (i.e., can explain behaviour) as it is evident that infants do learn through association and reinforcement.
E: However, food may not be the only reinforcer. It may be that attention and responsiveness from a caregiver are also important rewards that assist in the formation of attachment. Such reinforcers are overlooked by the learning theory of attachment.
E: The theory that attachment is learned would seem to have at least some validity although such learning may well be more complicated than resulting simply from the provision of food
Evaluate contradicted of operant conditioning as a strength of Learning theory as an explanation of attachmen
P: Some predictions of the theory are incorrect.
E: Many instances of child abuse contradict operant conditioning. The learning theory of attachment would predict that neglect or punishment from parents would decrease attachment behaviour. However, observations show that children continue to show strong attachment behaviours to cruel parents who punish rather than reward them.
E: Limitation of the learning theory as it suggests that operant conditioning does not play an integral role in attachment formation and therefore is not a valid explanation of attachment
Evaluate reductionist as a limitation of Learning theory as an explanation of attachment
P: Can be regarded as reductionist.
E: Its focus on basic processes (stimulus-response links, reinforcement) would seem to be too simplistic to explain complex attachment behaviours;
E: Limitation of learning theory because the formation of attachment cannot be explained by reducing it to a single factor-i.e., the provision of food
Evaluate contradicted by Harlows as a limitation of Learning theory as an explanation of attachment
P: There is research using animals which contradicts
it.
E: Harlow found that baby monkeys were most attached to the ‘mother’ that provided contact comfort and
not the ‘mother’ which provided food.
E: Limitation of learning theory because it suggests that feeding is not the key element to
attachment and that other factors are more important than food which limits the
validity of learning theory as an explanation of attachment formation.
