Learning Theory

Question 1

What does the learning theory propose?

Answer 1

-Learning theory proposes that attachments are learnt
-It suggests that babies learn to be attached to their caregiver through either classical conditioning and operant conditioning

Question 2

Why is the learning theory, sometimes called the cupboard love theory of attachment?

Answer 2

You wish training over yet, I am emphasises the importance of the caregiver as a provider of food

Question 3

What does the learning theory explain?

Answer 3

Caregiver infant interaction

Question 4

What is classical conditioning?

Answer 4

Learning through association

Question 5

What can classical conditioning only be used to do?

Answer 5

Shape reflex behaviours

Question 6

In the case of attachment, what becomes associated with who (classical conditioning)?

Answer 6

-The pleasure of food (UCS) becomes associated with the caregiver who feeds the infant (NS)
-through classical conditioning, this person becomes a source of pleasure even when there is no feeding

Question 7

What has happened when the person becomes a source of pleasure, even when there was no feeding (through classical conditioning)?

Answer 7

The neutral stimulus (caregiver) has become a conditioned stimulus, and now the sight of the caregiver alone produces the condition of response of pleasure

Question 8

what is the diagram of classical conditioning?

Answer 8

UCS—UCR
NS—NR
UCS + NS—UCR
CS—CR

Question 9

What are two general criticisms of classical conditioning?

Answer 9

-Glaswegian babies
-Harlow

Question 10

Who did the research for classical conditioning?

Answer 10

Ivan Pavlov (salivating dogs)

Question 11

what does operant conditioning involve?

Answer 11

Learning through reinforcement

Question 12

Who is operant conditioning explained by?

Answer 12

Dollard and Miller

Question 13

What happens if a behaviour produces a pleasant consequence (operant conditioning)?

Answer 13

The behaviour is likely to be repeated

Question 14

what is a primary drive in operant conditioning?

Answer 14

Hunger- infant feels uncomfortable, and will be driven to seek food to satisfy their hunger

Question 15

what happens to the primary drive once the infant is fed? (operant conditioning)

Answer 15

The drive is reduced, and this produces a sense of pleasure ( a reward)

Question 16

Why is food a primary reinforcer?

Answer 16

because it directly reduces the discomfort and the behaviour is likely to be repeated (learned)

Question 17

what is the secondary drive of operant conditioning?

Answer 17

attachment

Question 18

Who becomes the secondary reinforcer in operant conditioning?

Answer 18

-The person who provides the food that reduces the drive
-from then, on infants seeks to be with the person who has become the secondary reinforcer

Question 19

Why does the infant seek to be with the person who has become a secondary reinforcer?

Answer 19

because they are now a source of reward in their own right, and then attachment is formed

Question 20

what can operant conditioning explain?

Answer 20

why babies cry for comfort (an important behaviour in building attachment)

Question 21

what are the two types of reinforcement?

Answer 21

Positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement

Question 22

what is crying positively reinforced by?

Answer 22

The caregiver as it creates a pleasant response, for example feeding

Question 23

Why is reinforcement in operant a two-way process?

Answer 23

-at the same time as the baby being positivity reinforced for crying, the caregiver receives negative reinforcement

Question 24

Why does the caregiver receive negative reinforcement? (operant conditioning)

Answer 24

because the baby stops crying (removing the negative stimulus)

Question 25

when is the behaviour likely to be repeated? (operant conditioning)

Answer 25

If a behaviour removes something negative

Question 26

What about operant conditioning strengthens attachment?

Answer 26

Mutual reinforcement

Question 27

What does positive reinforcement do?

Answer 27

-Strengthens behaviour by providing a pleasant consequence

Question 28

what does negative reinforcement do?

Answer 28

Strengthens behaviour by removing an unpleasant consequence

Question 29

What N is the learning theory?

Answer 29

Nurture