5 Explanation Learning Theory Dollard Miller 1950

Question 1

Known as cupboard love 
Classical conditions 
UCS —> UCR
UCS + NS —> UCR
CS —> CR
Babies associate food with pleasure so when the mother provider of the food becomes neural stimulus they learn to associate mother with pleasure

Answer 1

Operant conditioning
They learn through rewards and punishments
Reward = likely to repeat
Punishment = not likely to repeat
Negative reinforcement = baby learns that by crying which is unpleasant for mother easily gets them attention
Aim to reduce the drive which is hunger the primary biological drive and the food provider becomes the secondary drive

Question 2

Dollard’s
Evening (with)
Harlow
Hay
Schaffer
Red

Answer 2

Good explanatory power - association and reinforce is attachment process
Contradicting Harlow (1959) monkeys chose comfort over food
Alternative hay and vespo (1988) SLT modelling and imitation through loving behaviour
Contradicting Schaffer and Emerson 65% SA to mother even though others provided food
Too reductionist - simply reward and punishments for complex behaviour