Attachment - explanations of attachment: learning theory

Question 1

How does learning theory contrast with Bowlby’s theory?

Answer 1

It suggests behaviour is learnt rather than innate and when babies are born, they’re blank slates (‘tabula rasa’) and are shaped through experiences

Question 2

What does learning theory suggest about attachment?

Answer 2

Caregivers can quickly be associated with food as they’re present at feeding time

Question 3

What is the process of classical conditioning?

Answer 3

Before conditioning:
Unconditioned stimulus (UCS) ->
Unconditioned response (UCR)
During conditioning:
UCS + Neutral stimulus (NS) -> UCR
After conditioning:
Conditioned stimulus (CS) -> Conditioned response (CR)

Question 4

How is classical conditioning explained in words in regards to attachment?

Answer 4

Food (UCS) and is associated with pleasure (UCR). As the caregiver (NS) is present at the time of feeding, when combined with food (UCS), it still leads to the pleasure (UCR). Over time, they are associated with food and become the caregiver (CS), leading to pleasure (CR)

Question 5

How do babies also attach through operant conditioning?

Answer 5

They learn through consequences (reinforcement and punishment)
Babies learn through positive reinforcement, as when an infant is hungry and feels discomfort, they cry and are rewarded with food - they repeat this behaviour to get the positive outcome of food

Question 6

Why is food the primary reinforcer/drive?

Answer 6

It’s an innate, biological motivator to reduce discomfort of hunger

Question 7

How do mothers attach through operant conditioning?

Answer 7

They learn through negative reinforcement as they feed the baby to remove the unpleasant crying, and repeat this behaviour to achieve the positive outcome of silence

Question 8

Why is the mother/caregiver the secondary reinforcer/drive?

Answer 8

She feeds the baby and is associated with the reward