Learning Theory - Dollard and Miller Flashcards
(8 cards)
1
Q
What is the learning theory?
A
Learning Theory - Dollard and Miller
Children learn to attach to caregiver because they give them food - cupboard love
Attachment is a set of behaviours learned through experience
2
Q
CLASSICAL CONDITIONING
A
CLASSICAL CONDITIONING
- learning by association
- food is an unconditioned stimulus
- that produces an unconditioned response (pleasure)
- caregiver is a neutral response, produces no response
- caregiver continuously paired with stimulus (food) and becomes associated
- caregiver not a conditioned stimulus that produces a conditioned response
3
Q
OPERANT CONDITIONING
A
OPERANT CONDITIONING
- learning by reinforcement
- a hungry infant feels discomfort and this creates a drive to reduce this
- POS REINFORCEMENT - cute behaviours encourage caregiver to feem child (reducing hunger), causing pleasure
- NEG REINFORCEMENT - crying is unpleasant for caregiver so does social suppressor behaviour by feeding child to stop crying
4
Q
DRIVE THEORY - SEARS ET AL
A
DRIVE THEORY - SEARS ET AL
- hungry infant feels unconfortable and is driven to reduce discomfort
- food is primary reinforcer as it directly satisfies hunger
- caregiver is secondary reinforcer as they are associated with food
- attachment occurs as child seeks caregiver who can supply the reward (food)
5
Q
EVALUATION (3)
A
EVALUATION
- Schaffer and Emerson - sensitive responsiveness
- Animal studies - contact comfort, imprinting
- Active role ignored - IS and reciprocity - Isabella et al
6
Q
EVAL: Schaffer and Emerson counter evidence
A
Schaffer and Emerson counter evidence
- found infants attach to those who provide the most skilled response to the infant - sensitive reponsiveness
- attachment not formed by food, learning theory may be inaccurate
7
Q
EVAL: Animal studies counter evidence
A
Animal studies counter evidence
- harlow found that monkeys seeked contact comfort, goes against cupboard love
- lorenz gosling imprinted immediately after hatching, attachment is a biological drive independent from feeding
- attachments formed without feeding, learning theory inaccurate
8
Q
EVAL: Active role ignored - Interaction synchrony and reciprocity
A
Active role ignored - Interaction synchrony and reciprocity
- Isabella found that IS and reciprocity highly linked to attachment quality
- correlation with complex behaviours more than just cupboard love
- infants play active role as opposed to passively shaped by environmental stimuli
- weakness - more than association with food
