4.1.3 LEARNING THEORY

Question 1

who proposed the learning theory of attachment and when?
what did they state?

Answer 1

DOLLARD AND MILLER (1950)
- states that attachment is a learned behaviour that is acquired through both classical and operant conditioning
- it’s a nurture theory
- learning theory of attachment proposes that all behaviour is learnt rather than an innate biological behaviour as children are born blank slates

Question 2

what is classical conditioning?

Answer 2

• based on the classical conditioning idea that we learn via association
• we learn when we associate a stimulus with a response
• key concepts:
  -> unconditioned stimulus (UCS)
  produces an -> unconditioned response (UCR)
  if paired enough times with a -> neutral stimulus (NS)
  then over time the -> neutral stimulus (NS) becomes the
  -> conditioned stimulus (CS)
  and a -> conditioned response (CR) will happen

Question 3

how does classical conditioning work with infants and attachment?

Answer 3

• infant is hungry and this isn’t a comfortable feeling so they crave food
• food is the unconditioned stimulus (UCS)
• produces pleasure
• pleasure is the unconditioned response (UCR)
• the PCG provides food and to start with, is the neutral stimulus (NS)
• the child begins to associate food and PCG together
• the PCG becomes the conditioned stimulus (CS)
• pleasure becomes the conditioned response (CR)
• attachment has formed to the PCG

Question 4

what is operant conditioning?

Answer 4

• this is based on the idea that we learn via punishments and rewards
• presence of the caregiver is reinforcing for the infant
• infant gains pleasure / reward as they’re being fed
• behaviour of the infant is reinforcing for the caregiver
  (the caregiver gains pleasure from smiles etc - reward)
• reinforcement process is reciprocal and strengthens the emotional bond / attachment between the two

Question 5

how does operant conditioning work with infants and attachment

Answer 5

• we learn via rewards, punishments and reinforcement
• infants learn that they can receive attachment from the PCG if they cry / giggle / laugh etc
• these behaviours are positively reinforced for the infant
• this means the infant repeats the behaviour as it learns that it can receive what it wants if it repeats the action more
• PCG is also rewarded as a negative reinforcer is removed
• the infant stops crying
• this means the PCG is likely to repeat the behaviour as it’s rewarding
• something unpleasant is removed

Question 6

what was the secondary drive hypothesis that DOLLARD AND MILLER proposed?

Answer 6

• describes the processes of learning an attachment through operant and classical conditioning
• explains how primary drives (are essential for survival) become associated with secondary drives (stimulus that reinforces behaviour after it’s been associated with the primary drive)
• extended the theory to explain that attachment is a two way process that the caregiver also learns
• this occurs through negative reinforcement when the caregiver feels pleasure because the infant is no longer distressed

Question 7

evaluate the negatives of learning theory as an explanation for attachment using Lorenz and Harlow

Answer 7

• animal studies (Lorenz and Harlow) don’t support learning theory explanations
  -> the goslings in Lorenz, imprint within minutes of being born so have no time to learn (it’s innate not learnt)
  -> Harlow’s monkeys prefer the cloth mother that provides comfort to the mother that provides food
  -> in both studies, food isn’t the primary reason for attachment

Question 8

evaluate the learning theory of attachment with reference to Schaffer and Emerson

Answer 8

• demonstrates that food wasn’t a factor in the attachment
• over a third of cases, the mother didn’t do all of the day-to-day care for the infant such as feeding or bathing etc
• less than half of infants had a primary attachment to the person who usually fed them
• yet in all cases, she became the PCG
• they stated that attachment was more about who was the most sensitive and loving in responding to the baby (the mother in these cases)
• so food has nothing to do with attachment

Question 9

evaluate some general negatives of the learning theory of attachment

Answer 9

• the reliability of the learning theory is questioned as it’s based on research with animals
• behaviourists believe that humans are similar to animals in how they learn
• the drive reduction theory (based on the idea that the primary motivation behind all human behaviour is to reduce ‘drives’) though popular previously isn’t used today as it can only display a few behaviours
• the theory fails to explain secondary reinforcers as many people do things that give them discomfort
• the learning theory is highly reductionist in only looking at food as the main drive behind attachment
• could be said to be over-simplified in ignoring reciprocity, sensitivity and innate qualities that may also be factors

Question 10

evaluate a positive of the learning theory of attachment

Answer 10

• provides useful information as it explains that infants learn through association and reinforcement
• attention and responsiveness from a caregiver and sensitivity to the child’s needs allows an attachment to be formed
• the sensitivity which the main caregiver provides is then mimicked by the infant teaching the child how to react