Learning theory of attachment Flashcards
(15 cards)
What does the learning theory suggest about attachment?
attachment is learnt and based on associations and rewards infants receive from their caregiver in terms of food
How are attachments formed?
Through classical conditioning, learning through association
How are attachments maintained?
Through operant conditioning, attachments through consequences
Outline attachment by classical conditioning
- UCS > UCR
- NS + UCS > UCR
- CS > CR
What is the neutral stimulus?
Mother
What is the unconditioned stimulus?
Food
How does operant conditioning explain attachment?
attachment forms as a result of needing to reduce a drive
What is a drive?
Drive is something that motivates behaviour, in case of a hungry infant the drive is to remove the discomfort of hunger
Outline the social learning theory of attachment
- Hay and Vespo
- suggests that modelling can be used to explain attachment
- children observe parents affectionate behaviour and imitate it
- Parents also deliberately instruct children on how to behave in relationships and reward appropriate attachments with hugs and kisses
Summarise the process of classical conditioning
- UCS gives the UCR of a happy baby
- During conditioning the food (UCS) is paired with the mother (NS)
- This produces UCR of happy baby
- After many parings, baby learns to associate mother with food
- Mother becomes CS, through feeding an attachment is formed
Summarise the process of operant conditioning
- As baby cries it learns to associate the crying with being rewarded with food
- It is a positive reinforcement as the baby’s behaviour is being rewarded
- Parent is negatively reinforced when baby is given food
- Negatively reinforced as it stops the crying of the baby, which is rewarding for the parent
- Through operant conditioning both are being rewarded (P+N) and thus repeat the behaviours forming an attachment
A03 - Learning theories are based on research with animals
- Behaviourists believe that humans are no different to animals and research into learning theory has been based of animals (e.g. Pavlov and Skinner)
- Behaviourists argue that humans share the same basic building blocks of stimulus/response, therefore findings of animal studies can legitimately be used to explain human behaviour
- Some non-behaviourists argue that complex human behaviour like attachment cannot be explained using concepts like association and reinforcements
- Therefore, the learning theory may offer an oversimplified view on attachment behaviour
A03 - Is contact or food more important
- The main explanation put forward by the learning theory is that food is the key element
- Alternative evidence suggest that feeding has nothing to do with attachment
- For example, Shaffer and Emerson and Bowlby
- Therefore, the learning theory is oversimplified and ignores other important factors such as contact or comfort
A03 - May provide a partial explanation for attachment
- Although the LT may not provide a complete explanation for the formation of attachment, it does have some value
- Infants do learn through associations and reinforcements, however food my not be the main reinforcer
- The reinforcer may be attention and responsiveness given by the caregiver, which is not taken into account by the original learning theory
- Therefore, the LT may help us with some explanations of attachment but not a complete one
A03 - Are drive reduction theories still important?
- In the 1940’s drive reduction theories were important, however they are largely ignored today
- This is because it has been argued that drive reduction theories can only explain a limited number behaviours
- There are many behaviours that humans carry out that do not reduce discomfort (e.g. bungee jumping)
- It also doe not explain how secondary reinforcers that do not reduce discomfort also motivate people to repeat a behaviour (e.g. being offered more money)
- Therefore, the LT has low historical validity and may not explain the formation of attachment
