Learning Theory Of Attachment AO3

Question 1

✅ How has the concept of conditioning been revised in understanding attachment?

Answer 1

Some psychologists suggest that while feeding may not be the unconditioned stimulus (UCS), comfort, security, and social interaction could be. This means conditioning might still play a role, but not in the way the original theory suggested.

Question 2

✅ How has social learning theory expanded the understanding of attachment?

Answer 2

Hay and Vespo (1988) proposed that attachment can also develop through social learning theory, where parents model affectionate behavior, and children learn through observation and reinforcement, improving the explanatory power of the learning approach.

Question 3

❌ How does the learning theory ignore other important factors in attachment?

Answer 3

It overlooks the role of reciprocity (mutual interaction) and interactional synchrony (mirroring behaviors), which are essential for forming strong attachments. This questions the theory’s validity, as it cannot explain these complex social behaviors.

Question 4

What did Schaffer and Emerson (1964) find that contradicts the learning theory?

Answer 4

Schaffer and Emerson found that many infants formed their primary attachment to their biological mother, even if other caregivers did most of the feeding. This challenges the idea that attachment is based solely on who provides food.