3. ATTACHMENT (Explanations of attachment: Learning theory) Flashcards
What is the Learning Theory of attachment?
The Learning Theory explains attachment as learned through experiences, rather than being innate. It includes classical and operant conditioning as mechanisms for attachment formation.
What is the key idea behind the Learning Theory of attachment?
The theory suggests that children are born as “blank slates,” and attachment is formed through learning processes like classical and operant conditioning.
What is classical conditioning in relation to attachment?
Classical conditioning explains attachment as learning through association, where a neutral stimulus (caregiver) becomes associated with an unconditioned stimulus (food), leading to a conditioned response (attachment).
How does classical conditioning explain the attachment of a baby to its caregiver?
The caregiver (neutral stimulus) becomes associated with food (unconditioned stimulus), leading to positive feelings (conditioned response), causing the baby to form an attachment to the caregiver.
What is operant conditioning in relation to attachment?
Operant conditioning explains attachment through reinforcement, where behaviours (like crying) are strengthened because they lead to a positive outcome (food), promoting attachment to the caregiver.
How does operant conditioning explain how attachment is formed?
Babies cry (social releaser) to get food, which reduces hunger (drive reduction). Crying is reinforced by food, and the caregiver is positively reinforced for stopping the crying, creating attachment.
What is the role of positive and negative reinforcement in attachment?
Positive reinforcement (crying leads to feeding) encourages the baby to repeat the behaviour, while negative reinforcement (caregiver stops unpleasant crying by feeding) encourages the caregiver to continue the behaviour.
What is a strength of the Learning Theory of attachment?
It has explanatory power, as it can explain how attachment behaviours are learned through association and reinforcement. However, other factors like attention and responsiveness from the caregiver are also important.
Why does the Learning Theory have face validity?
It makes intuitive sense that babies form attachments to those who feed them, as food is a primary motivator for infants. However, the theory overlooks other factors, like caregiver responsiveness.
What research contradicts the Learning Theory of attachment?
Schaffer and Emerson’s (1964) research found that babies did not always form their primary attachment with the person who fed them, suggesting that other factors beyond feeding contribute to attachment.
How does Harlow’s monkey study contradict the Learning Theory of attachment?
Harlow’s study showed that baby monkeys preferred the “mother” that provided contact comfort over the one that provided food, suggesting attachment is not based solely on feeding.
How do instances of child abuse challenge the Learning Theory of attachment?
Learning theory would predict that neglect or punishment would reduce attachment behaviours, but abused children often continue to show attachment to cruel parents, contradicting the theory.
What is a limitation of the Learning Theory of attachment?
It is reductionist, as it simplifies attachment to basic stimulus-response associations and reinforcement, ignoring the complexity of attachment behaviours and other influences like emotional bonds.
How does Bowlby’s theory challenge the Learning Theory?
Bowlby’s theory proposes that attachment is innate and biologically programmed, contrasting with the Learning Theory, which argues attachment is learned through experiences (nurture).
What flaw in operant conditioning does the Learning Theory face?
Operant conditioning predicts that attachment behaviours would be based on reinforcement, but cases of child abuse where children continue to form attachments to their abusers suggest operant conditioning is not the only explanation for attachment.
