Attachment L5

Question 1

What does the learning theory say (A01)?

Answer 1

Behaviour is learned rather then being innate or inherited by parents.

Question 2

How do people learn behaviours (A01)?

Answer 2

Operant conditioning and Classical conditioning

Question 3

Explain classical conditioning (A01)?

Answer 3

Infant is born with certain reflex responses, stimulus of food is unconditioned stimulus and it produces the reflex of pleasure, which is an unconditioned response.
The person providing the food is a neutral stimulus they become associated with the pleasure gained from food.
The person becomes a conditioned stimuli that produces the pleasure as a conditioned response.

Question 4

Explain operant conditioning (A01)?

Answer 4

Operant conditioning strengthens attachment. Baby receives positive reinforcement (when behaviour produces a pleasant response) eg crying when hungry and being fed. Caregiver receives negative reinforcement (behaviour removes something unpleasant) for feeding baby as it stops them crying.

Question 5

What is a strength of learning theory (A03)?

Answer 5

It’s plausible and scientific as it is founded in established theory. Likely that provision of needs and a person providing forms a strong attachment

Question 6

What is a weakness of learning theory (A03 - Schaffer and Emerson)?

Answer 6

Schaffer and Emerson found that food is not necessary to form attachments. 39% of babies were more attached to someone else despite the fact mother fed them

Question 7

What is a weakness of learning theory (A03)?

Answer 7

Theory explains how attachments form but not why there formed. Doesn’t explain the whole situation.