3.3: The learning theory

Question 1

When Max was born, his mother gave up work to stay at home and look after him.
Max’s father works long hours and does not have much to do with the day-to-day care of his son. Max is now nine months old and he seems to have a very close bond with his mother.
Use learning theory to explain how Max became attached to his mother rather than to his father (6 marks)

Answer 1

Learning theory suggests attachment develops through classical and operant conditioning

Question 2

When Max was born, his mother gave up work to stay at home and look after him.
Max’s father works long hours and does not have much to do with the day-to-day care of his son. Max is now nine months old and he seems to have a very close bond with his mother.
Use learning theory to explain how Max became attached to his mother rather than to his father (6 marks).
Learning theory suggests attachment develops through classical and operant conditioning.

Answer 2

According to classical conditioning, food (UCS) produces pleasure (UCR).
Max’s mother was associated with the food and becomes a conditioned stimulus

Question 3

When Max was born, his mother gave up work to stay at home and look after him.
Max’s father works long hours and does not have much to do with the day-to-day care of his son. Max is now nine months old and he seems to have a very close bond with his mother.
Use learning theory to explain how Max became attached to his mother rather than to his father (6 marks).
Learning theory suggests attachment develops through classical and operant conditioning.
According to classical conditioning, food (UCS) produces pleasure (UCR).
Max’s mother was associated with the food and becomes a conditioned stimulus.

Answer 3

According to operant conditioning, food satisfied Max’s hunger and made him feel comfortable again (drive reduction).
Food was therefore a primary reinforcer.
His mother was associated with food and became a secondary reinforcer

Question 4

When Max was born, his mother gave up work to stay at home and look after him.
Max’s father works long hours and does not have much to do with the day-to-day care of his son. Max is now nine months old and he seems to have a very close bond with his mother.
Use learning theory to explain how Max became attached to his mother rather than to his father (6 marks).
Learning theory suggests attachment develops through classical and operant conditioning.
According to classical conditioning, food (UCS) produces pleasure (UCR).
Max’s mother was associated with the food and becomes a conditioned stimulus.
According to operant conditioning, food satisfied Max’s hunger and made him feel comfortable again (drive reduction).
Food was therefore a primary reinforcer.
His mother was associated with food and became a secondary reinforcer.

Answer 4

Max became attached to his mother because she was a source of reward