Attachment: Explanations Of Attachment - Learning Theory 24/25 UPDATED Flashcards
What two learning theories can be used to explain attachment?
Classical + operant conditioning
Classical conditioning is learning through…
Associations
Operant conditioning is learning through…
Reinforcement
Which behaviourist researcher developed the theory of classical conditioning
Pavlov
Which behaviourist researcher developed the theory of operant conditioning?
Skinner
Learning theory suggests infants learn to attach to…
Whoever feeds them
What is meant by an unconditioned stimulus?
An unlearnt ‘thing’
What is meant by a neutral stimulus
A ‘thing’ which we have no experience / knowledge / response to
What is meant by an unconditioned response?
An unlearnt / automatic response
What is meant by a conditioned stimulus?
A learnt ‘thing’
What is meant by an conditioned response?
A learnt response
According to learning theory, milk is what kind of stimulus?
Unconditioned
According to learning theory, the feeder is what type of stimulus, at first?
Neutral
According to learning theory, milk acts as what when forming an attachment?
Unconditioned stimulus
According to learning theory of attachment, what is the unconditioned response?
Pleasure
According to learning theory of attachment, what is the feeder?
Neutral stimulus
According to learning theory, the neutral stimulus when learning an attachment is…
The feeder
A student has written this response:
“As soon as the feeder feeds the infant, the infant associates pleasure with the feeder and an attachment”
Is this correct or incorrect; why?
Incorrect - feeding needs to be repetitive
Through repetition of feeding the infant learns to __________ the feeder with food and pleasure
Associate
What is meant by associate?
Pair / link / put together
During the conditioning process what is paired together
Neutral stimulus (feeder) + Unconditioned stimulus (food)
After the conditioning process - what does the feeder become?
Conditioned stimulus
After the conditioning process - what is the conditioned stimulus?
Feeder
After the conditioning process - what does pleasure become?
The conditioned response
After the conditioning process - what is the conditioned response?
Pleasure
Operant conditioning can explain why an infant performs what behaviour, and for what purpose?
Crying for comfort
When an infant is hungry, what behaviour is performed?
Crying
When an infant cries, what behaviour does the caregiver provide?
Feeding
When an infant cries, the caregiver feeds the infant.
What type of reinforcement is this?
Positive
An infant’s crying is positively reinforced by what reward?
Food
Food acts as what component in the context of positive reinforcement?
Reward
Who is positively reinforced to strengthen an attachment?
Infant
When a caregiver feeds the infant, the crying stops.
What type of reinforcement does the caregiver receive?
Negative
Who is negatively reinforced in the context of strengthening an attachment?
The caregiver
How is the caregiver negatively reinforced in the context of strengthening an attachment?
Feeding makes the crying stop
What component does crying act as in the context of negative reinforcement?
Negative stimulus
What is operant conditioning used to explain, in the context of attachment?
An attachment strengthening
AO3 Focus
Learning theory can be criticised for what type of reductionism?
This will form your Point of your PEEL
Environmental
This will form your Point of your PEEL
AO3 Focus
Why can learning theory be criticised for environmental reductionism?
This will form the first E of your PEEL
It reduces the complex human behaviour of attachment down to simple basic units
This will form the first E of your PEEL
AO3 Focus
What simple basic units does learning theory reduce attachment into?
*Remember to be specific - refer to the theory itself using your knowled
This will form the first E of your PEEL
Stimulus, response, and association
This will form the first E of your PEEL
AO3 Focus
If the learning theory is reductionist, what approach does this mean is rejected?
This will form the second E of your PEEL
Holistic approach
This will form the second E of your PEEL
AO3 Focus
Who conducted research to contradict learning theory’s idea that we attach via food?
Harlow
AO3 Focus
What did Harlow find which contradicts learning theory?
Monkeys spent more time with the surrogate mother who provided comfort than the surrogate mother who provided them with food..
AO3 Focus
Why do Harlow’s findings contradict learning theory?
Learning says we learn to attach through making associations to who feeds us - Harlow found comfort more important
AO3 Focus
What did Schaffer & Emerson find which contradicts learning theory?
Infants attach to their mother regardless of whether she was the one who usually fed them
AO3 Focus
What did Field find which contradicts learning theory?
The best quality of attachments are with the caregivers that are sensitive and responsive to the infant’s needs.
