Learning Theory

Question 1

What is the cupboard love approach?

Answer 1

When infants attach to the person who provides them with food

Question 2

What is the main assumption of the learning theory?

Answer 2

We learn from the environment and our experiences and we are all born as blank slates

Question 3

Which 2 researchers proposed the cupboard love approach?

Answer 3

John Dollard and Neal Miller

Question 4

What are the 2 processes of the learning theory?

Answer 4

Classical and operant conditioning

Question 5

How do infants develop attachment through classical conditioning?

Answer 5

Infants learn to associate the unconditioned stimulus of food with the caregiver

Question 6

What is the drive reduction theory?

Answer 6

When an animal is uncomfortable and this creates a drive to reduce this discomfort

Question 7

How do infants develop attachment through operant conditioning?

Answer 7

• when child is hungry, they have a drive to reduce discomfort
• they will cry and caregiver feeds them
• acts as negative reinforcement
• behvaiour is more likely to be reproduced

Question 8

What are the primary and secondary reinforcer in operant conditionig?

Answer 8

Food = primary reinforcer
Caregiver = secondary reinforcer

Question 9

Strength - some evidence for conditioning

Answer 9

• infants do learn through association but instead of food it may be the attention and responsiveness from a caregiver
• Schaffer and Emerson found results consistent with this idea

Question 10

Limitation - contradictory animal research

Answer 10

• Lorenz’s geese imprinted before they were fed
• Harlow’s monkeys attached to a soft mother rather than a wired one which dispensed milk

Question 11

Limitation - ignores nature

Answer 11

• learning theory focuses on nurture and ignores evolutionary factors

Question 12

Limitation - environmental reductionism

Answer 12

• breaks complex behaviour into simple stimulus and response chains and focuses on the role of food
• oversimplifies a complex idea like attachment