3.3: Learning theory

Question 1

What are 2 explanations for attachment?

Answer 1

2 explanations for attachment are:

1. The learning theory
2. Bowlby’s monotropic theory

Question 2

What is the learning theory also known as?

Answer 2

The learning theory is also known as behaviourism

Question 3

Learning theory

Answer 3

The learning theory is the belief that attachments develop through conditioning processes

Question 4

How many types of learning theory apply to the development of attachments?

Answer 4

2 types of learning theory apply to the development of attachments:

1. Classical conditioning
2. Operant conditioning

Question 5

Classical conditioning

Answer 5

Classical conditioning occurs when a response produced naturally by a certain stimulus becomes associated with another stimulus that is not normally associated with that particular response

Question 6

Classical conditioning:
Unconditional stimuli (UCS)

Answer 6

Unconditional stimuli (UCS) is something that naturally causes you to respond in some way (unconditioned response or UCR)

Question 7

Classical conditioning:
Neutral stimulus (NS)

Answer 7

Neutral stimulus (NS) is a stimulus that you feel fairly natural towards

Question 8

Classical conditioning:
Conditioned stimulus (CS)

Answer 8

Conditioned stimulus (CS) is something that:
1. You would not normally respond to
,but
2. Since being paired with an unconditioned stimuli (UCS), makes you respond in a certain way (conditioned response or CR)

Question 9

Classical conditioning:
How attachments form because of classical conditioning:
Before learning: Food (UCS) = What?

Answer 9

Before learning: Food (UCS) = Pleasure (UCR)

Question 10

Classical conditioning:
How attachments form because of classical conditioning:
Before learning: Food (UCS) = Pleasure (UCR).
During learning: Mother (NS) + Food (UCS) = What?

Answer 10

During learning: Mother (NS) + Food (UCS) = Pleasure (UCR)

Question 11

Classical conditioning:
How attachments form because of classical conditioning:
Before learning: Food (UCS) = Pleasure (UCR).
During learning: Mother (NS) + Food (UCS) = Pleasure (UCR).
After learning: Mother (CS) = What?

Answer 11

Mother (CS) = Pleasure (CR)

Question 12

Classical conditioning:
How attachments form because of classical conditioning:
Before learning: Food (UCS) = Pleasure (UCR).
During learning: Mother (NS) + Food (UCS) = Pleasure (UCR).
After learning: Mother (CS) = Pleasure (CR).
After several paired presentations of food and the caregiver, what does the infant learn to do?

Answer 12

After several paired presentations of:
1. Food
2. The caregiver
,the infant learns to associate pleasure solely with the caregiver

Question 13

Classical conditioning:
How attachments form because of classical conditioning:
Before learning: Food (UCS) = Pleasure (UCR).
During learning: Mother (NS) + Food (UCS) = Pleasure (UCR).
After learning: Mother (CS) = Pleasure (CR).
After several paired presentations of food and the caregiver, the infant learns to associate pleasure solely with the caregiver, without any need for what?

Answer 13

After several paired presentations of:
1. Food
2. The caregiver
,the infant learns to associate pleasure solely with the caregiver, without any need for food

Question 14

There are 2 main types of learning - Classical conditioning and operant conditioning.
Classical conditioning is learning by what?

Answer 14

Classical conditioning is learning by association

Question 15

There are 2 main types of learning - Classical conditioning and operant conditioning.
Classical conditioning is learning by association and people are more likely to do what?

Answer 15

Classical conditioning is learning by association and people are more likely to repeat the behaviour

Question 16

There are 2 main types of learning - Classical conditioning and operant conditioning.
Operant conditioning is learning as a result of what?

Answer 16

Operant conditioning is learning as a result of the consequences of your actions

Question 17

There are 2 main types of learning - Classical conditioning and operant conditioning.
Operant conditioning is learning as a result of the consequences of your actions and people are less likely to do what?

Answer 17

Operant conditioning is learning as a result of the consequences of your actions and people are less likely to repeat the behaviour

Question 18

Who (what year) was classical conditioning first investigated by?

Answer 18

Classical conditioning was first investigated by Pavlov (1927)

Question 19

Classical conditioning was first investigated by Pavlov (1927), who looked at what?

Answer 19

Classical conditioning was first investigated by Pavlov (1927), who looked at dogs

Question 20

The learning theory:

How do we arrive in the world?

Answer 20

We arrive in the world a blank state

Question 21

The learning theory:
We arrive in the world a blank state.
What isn’t innate?

Answer 21

1. Learning
2. Attachment
   isn’t innate

Question 22

The learning theory:
We arrive in the world a blank state.
Learning and attachment isn’t innate.
We learn how to behave and respond because of what?

Answer 22

We learn how to:
1. Behave
2. Respond
because of how we are brought up

Question 23

The learning theory:
We arrive in the world a blank state.
Learning and attachment isn’t innate.
We learn how to behave and respond because of how we are brought up, nothing is what?

Answer 23

We learn how to:
1. Behave
2. Respond
because of how we are brought up, nothing is innate

Question 24

How can you link classical conditioning to attachment?

Infants associate feeding/comfort with their primary caregiver, which gives them what?

Answer 24

Infants associate feeding/comfort with their primary caregiver, which gives them pleasure

Question 25

How can you link classical conditioning to attachment?
Infants associate feeding/comfort with their primary caregiver, which gives them pleasure and so why do they gain an attachment figure?

Answer 25

Infants associate feeding/comfort with their primary caregiver:

1. Which gives them pleasure
2. So they gain an attachment figure, because that attachment figure is associated with pleasure

Question 26

How can you link classical conditioning to attachment?
Infants associate feeding/comfort with their primary caregiver, which gives them pleasure and so they gain an attachment figure, because that attachment figure is associated with pleasure.
Who said that a baby gains pleasure from feeding and learns to associate the caregiver with the pleasure gained from feeding and therefore becomes attached?

Answer 26

Dollard and Miller said that a baby:

1. Gains pleasure from feeding and learns to associate the caregiver with the pleasure gained from feeding
2. Therefore becomes attached

Question 27

How can you link classical conditioning to attachment?
Infants associate feeding/comfort with their primary caregiver, which gives them pleasure and so they gain an attachment figure, because that attachment figure is associated with pleasure.
Dollard and Miller said that a baby gains pleasure from feeding and learns to associate the caregiver with the pleasure gained from feeding and therefore becomes attached.
This is a concept also known as what?

Answer 27

This is a concept also known as the cupboard love theory

Question 28

How can you link classical conditioning to attachment?
Infants associate feeding/comfort with their primary caregiver, which gives them pleasure and so they gain an attachment figure, because that attachment figure is associated with pleasure.
Dollard and Miller said that a baby gains pleasure from feeding and learns to associate the caregiver with the pleasure gained from feeding and therefore becomes attached.
This is a concept also known as the cupboard love theory, why?

Answer 28

This is a concept also known as the cupboard love theory, because when you open a cupboard/fridge, you know there’s food in there, so it gives you pleasure

Question 29

Operant conditioning

Answer 29

Operant conditioning is learning occurring via reinforcement of behaviour

Question 30

Operant conditioning is learning occurring via reinforcement of behaviour.
What is operant conditioning based on?

Answer 30

Operant conditioning is based on the ‘Law of Effect’

Question 31

Operant conditioning is learning occurring via reinforcement of behaviour.
Operant conditioning is based on the ‘Law of Effect,’ where what?

Answer 31

Operant conditioning is based on the ‘Law of Effect,’ where any action that has a pleasurable outcome will be repeated again in similar circumstances

Question 32

Operant conditioning is learning occurring via reinforcement of behaviour.
Operant conditioning is based on the ‘Law of Effect,’ where any action that has a pleasurable outcome will be repeated again in similar circumstances.
What are pleasurable outcomes known as?

Answer 32

Pleasurable outcomes are known as reinforcements

Question 33

Operant conditioning is learning occurring via reinforcement of behaviour.
Operant conditioning is based on the ‘Law of Effect,’ where any action that has a pleasurable outcome will be repeated again in similar circumstances.
Pleasurable outcomes are known as reinforcements, why?

Answer 33

Pleasurable outcomes are known as reinforcements, because they strengthen the behaviour, making it more likely to occur again

Question 34

Operant conditioning is learning occurring via reinforcement of behaviour.
Operant conditioning is based on the ‘Law of Effect,’ where any action that has a pleasurable outcome will be repeated again in similar circumstances.
Pleasurable outcomes are known as reinforcements, because they strengthen the behaviour, making it more likely to occur again.
Positive reinforcements involve receiving something pleasurable for performing a certain behaviour, while negative reinforcements involve not receiving something non-pleasurable for performing a certain behaviour.
Therefore, attachments occur through caregivers becoming associated with doing what?

Answer 34

Therefore, attachments occur through caregivers becoming associated with reducing the unpleasant feeling of hunger (a negative reinforcement)

Question 35

Operant conditioning is learning occurring via reinforcement of behaviour.
Operant conditioning is based on the ‘Law of Effect,’ where any action that has a pleasurable outcome will be repeated again in similar circumstances.
Pleasurable outcomes are known as reinforcements, because they strengthen the behaviour, making it more likely to occur again.
Positive reinforcements involve receiving something pleasurable for performing a certain behaviour, while negative reinforcements involve not receiving something non-pleasurable for performing a certain behaviour.
Therefore, attachments occur through caregivers becoming associated with reducing the unpleasant feeling of hunger (a negative reinforcement), so that the caregiver becomes a source of what themselves?

Answer 35

Therefore, attachments occur through caregivers becoming associated with reducing the unpleasant feeling of hunger (a negative reinforcement), so that the caregiver becomes a source of reinforcement (reward) themself

Question 36

The learning theory sees attachments as forming due to what?

Answer 36

The learning theory sees attachments as forming due to an association being developed between:

1. Mother
2. Feeding

Question 37

Cupboard love theory

Answer 37

The cupboard love theory is the belief that attachments are formed with people who feed infants

Question 38

Operant conditioning:

If behaviour is rewarded, we are more likely to do what?

Answer 38

If behaviour is rewarded, we are more likely to repeat it

Question 39

Operant conditioning:
If behaviour is rewarded, we are more likely to repeat it.
If our behaviour is ‘reinforced,’ it makes it more likely that we will repeat that behaviour.
For example, if a baby boy cried in the middle of the night, he would know that he would get to sleep with his mum and dad in their bed, rather than alone in his cot, so what would he do?

Answer 39

For example, if a baby boy cried in the middle of the night, he would know that he would get to sleep with his mum and dad in their bed, rather than alone in his cot, so he would do it again

Question 40

Operant conditioning:
For example, a baby cries and the caregiver gives the baby attention.
What does the baby learn?

Answer 40

The baby learns that every time it cries, it gets a positive response from carers

Question 41

Operant conditioning:
For example, a baby cries and the caregiver gives the baby attention.
The baby learns that every time it cries, it gets a positive response from carers.
Why are the carers reinforced?

Answer 41

The carers are reinforced, because they are able to stop the crying

Question 42

Operant conditioning:

Most carers dislike hearing a baby cry, so what is the cessation of crying?

Answer 42

Most carers dislike hearing a baby cry, so the cessation of crying is a negative reinforcer

Question 43

Operant conditioning:
Most carers dislike hearing a baby cry, so the cessation of crying is a negative reinforcer, encouraging the carer to do what?

Answer 43

Most carers dislike hearing a baby cry, so the cessation of crying is a negative reinforcer, encouraging the carer to behave in such a way that the child stops crying

Question 44

Operant conditioning:
Most carers dislike hearing a baby cry, so the cessation of crying is a negative reinforcer, encouraging the carer to behave in such a way that the child stops crying.
What is very rewarding?

Answer 44

Smiling at the child is very rewarding

Question 45

Operant conditioning:
Most carers dislike hearing a baby cry, so the cessation of crying is a negative reinforcer, encouraging the carer to behave in such a way that the child stops crying.
Smiling at the child is very rewarding and is therefore a what?

Answer 45

Smiling at the child is:

1. Very rewarding
2. Therefore a positive reinforcer

Question 46

Operant conditioning:
Most carers dislike hearing a baby cry, so the cessation of crying is a negative reinforcer, encouraging the carer to behave in such a way that the child stops crying.
Smiling at the child is very rewarding and is therefore a positive reinforcer, so the carer behaves in such a way as to do what?

Answer 46

Smiling at the child is:
1. Very rewarding
2. Therefore a positive reinforcer
,so the carer behaves in such a way as to evoke smiling

Question 47

Operant conditioning:
Most carers dislike hearing a baby cry, so the cessation of crying is a negative reinforcer, encouraging the carer to behave in such a way that the child stops crying.
Smiling at the child is very rewarding and is therefore a positive reinforcer, so the carer behaves in such a way as to evoke smiling.
In these ways, what is formed between a carer and a child?

Answer 47

In these ways, an attachment bond is formed between a:

1. Carer
2. Child

Question 48

Positive reinforcement

Answer 48

Positive reinforcement is something that rewards behaviour

Question 49

Positive reinforcement is something that rewards behaviour.

Example

Answer 49

For example, a baby crying causes the caregiver to feed them, so the crying behaviour is useful, because it reduces hunger

Question 50

Negative reinforcement

Answer 50

Negative reinforcement is when a response switches off something unpleasant

Question 51

Negative reinforcement is when a response switches off something unpleasant.
Example

Answer 51

For example, the sound of a baby crying is unpleasant for its mother

Question 52

Negative reinforcement is when a response switches off something unpleasant.
For example, the sound of a baby crying is unpleasant for its mother, so what will the mother attempt to do?

Answer 52

For example, the sound of a baby crying is unpleasant for its mother, so the mother will attempt to stop the baby crying by:
1. Feeding
2. Comforting
it

Question 53

Negative reinforcement is when a response switches off something unpleasant.
For example, the sound of a baby crying is unpleasant for its mother, so the mother will attempt to stop the baby crying by feeding and comforting it.
What does the parent learn to do to stop the crying?

Answer 53

The parent learns to:
1. Feed
2. Cuddle
the baby to stop the crying

Question 54

The learning theory sees attachments as forming due to an association being developed between mother and feeding.
What should attachment behaviour do from birth?

Answer 54

Attachment behaviour should increase steadily from birth

Question 55

The learning theory sees attachments as forming due to an association being developed between mother and feeding.
Attachment behaviour should increase steadily from birth.
Who will the strongest attachments be with?

Answer 55

The strongest attachments will be with those who feed the child the most

Question 56

Metapelets

Answer 56

Metapelets are specially trained, full-time carers of newborn children

Question 57

Metapelets are specially trained, full-time carers of newborn children, allowing mothers to do what?

Answer 57

Metapelets are specially trained, full-time carers of newborn children, allowing mothers to work

Question 58

Metapelets are specially trained, full-time carers of newborn children, allowing mothers to work, although some time is spent with who?

Answer 58

Metapelets are specially trained, full-time carers of newborn children, allowing mothers to work, although some time is spent with parents