Lesson 4: Learning Theory Of Attachment

Question 1

What is Learning Theory?

Answer 1

• All behaviour is learnt instead of being innate

- People learn behaviour through Classical and Operant conditioning

Question 2

What is Classical Conditioning?

Answer 2

• Infant is born with reflex responses, the food is an unconditioned stimulus and produces a pleasurable reflex which is an unconditioned response
• The provider of food is a neutral stimulus, but they become associated with pleasure gained from the food
• Person becomes a conditioned response that produces pleasure as a conditioned response

Question 3

What is Operant Conditioning?

Answer 3

• Strengthens attachment
• Baby receives positive reinforcement for crying when hungry as they get fed
• Caregiver receives negative reinforcement for feeding crying baby so they stop crying

Question 4

Evaluation (+)

Answer 4

• Learning Theory is plausible and scientific as it found in an already established theory, that association of needs and provision of needs can lead to a strong attachment

Question 5

Evaluation (-)

Answer 5

• Harlow separated Rhesus monkeys from mothers and out them in cages. Milk was given by a cloth/wire monkey. Monkeys clung to soft mother when scared, even when it didn’t provide milk. This suggests comfort is more important than food for attachment
• Schaffer + Emerson found food isn’t necessary for attachment to form, rather it is who plays with them. In 39% of cases, the mother fed the baby but the baby was attached more to someone else
• Theory explains how attachment forms but not why. Bowlby says it is to remain protected
• Theory is environmentally reductionist as it takes the complex interaction and makes it simple. The attachment is complex, so it is unlikely that attachment is only the result of the caregiver to provide the food. States that early learning determines later attachment behaviours