Attachment: Learning theory

Question 1

What is classical conditioning?

Answer 1

Learning through association. Neutral stimulus is constantly paired with an unconditioned stimulus so that it eventually takes on the properties of the stimulus and is able to produce a conditioned response.

Question 2

What is operant conditioning?

Answer 2

Learning through reinforcement.

Question 3

What is the learning theory?

Answer 3

The name was given to a group of explanations (classical and operant conditioning), Which explains behaviour in terms of learning rather than any inborn tendencies or higher-order thinking. When children are born with a blank slate and everything they become can be explained in terms of experiences they have.

Question 4

What is the social learning theory?

Answer 4

Learning through observing others and imitating behaviours that are rewarded.

Question 5

What does classical conditioning claim children are born with?

Answer 5

Children are born with reflex responses e.g. responding to feeding with pleasure.

Question 6

Describe a step-by-step account of classical conditioning?

Answer 6

Classical conditioning is learning by association. Before conditioning, food is an unconditioned stimulus (UCS) which produces an unconditioned response (UCR) of pleasure as relief from hunger. The caregiver is a neutral stimulus (NS), who produces no conditioned response. During conditioning, the child associates the caregiver (NS) who feeds them with the food (UCS). Through repeated pairing, the caregiver becomes a conditioned stimulus (CS) that is associated with the pleasure of feeding. This results in the caregiver eliciting a conditioned response from the child and the formation of an attachment.

Question 7

Describe a step-by-step account of operant conditioning?

Answer 7

Operant conditioning proposes that when an infant feels hunger it is motivated to reduce the unpleasant feelings so cries to receive comfort. When the caregiver provides food, a feeling of pleasure is produced which is rewarding. Attachment will occur because the infant will seek the caregiver who can supply the reward.

Question 8

What is negative reinforcement?

Answer 8

Switches something unpleasant off.

Question 9

What is positive reinforcement?

Answer 9

Strengthens behaviour through praise of encouragement.

Question 10

What are punishments?

Answer 10

Stopping a behaviour by adding something negative to the environment.

Question 11

How does the SLT link to infants?

Answer 11

Modelling can be used to explain attachment behaviours. They propose that children observe the parent’s affectionate behaviour and imitate this. Parents would also deliberately instruct their children about how to behave in relationships and reward appropriate attachment behaviours such as giving kisses and hugs.

Question 12

A03: learning theory

Answer 12

+ Explanatory power
+ Supports the nurture side.
- Learning theory is based on animal studies.
- Attachment is not based on food

Question 13

A03: Explanatory power

Answer 13

One strength of the learning theory is it can explain some aspects of attachment. Infants do you learn through association and reinforcement, but the food may not be the main reinforcer. It may be that attention and responsiveness from a caregiver are important rewards that assist in the formation of attachment. Such reinforces were not part of the learning theory count. May also be that responsiveness is something that infants’ imitativeness learn about how to conduct relationships. Learning theory may not provide a complete explanation of attachment but still has some value.

Question 14

A03: Supports the nurture side

Answer 14

The learning theory explanation suggests that attachments are the result of learning which therefore supports a nurture‐ based view of behaviour. Consequently, such theories are reductionist (environmental) as they reduce a complex behaviour, the formation of an attachment between infants and their caregivers, to a simple stimulus–response association. Many psychologists would argue that human attachments are far more complex and learning explanations provide an overly simplified account of human attachment.

Question 15

A03: Learning theory is based on animal studies.

Answer 15

There are methodological issues with the research evidence for learning theory. Much of the supporting research, for example Pavlov’s research on dogs and Skinner’s research with rats and pigeons, is criticised for its over‐reliance on animals. This is an issue because psychologists argue that behaviourist explanations provide an oversimplified account of attachment formation, which is in fact a complex emotional bond between a human infant and their caregiver. As a result, the learning theory explanation may lack validity since it is difficult to generalise animal findings to humans with confidence that they would behave in the same way.

Question 16

A03: Attachment is not based on food

Answer 16

The main limitation of learning theory as an explanation for attachment is that it suggests that food is the key element in the formation of attachment. There is strong evidence to show that feeding has nothing to do with attachment. Famously, the study conducted by Harlow, shows that infant rhesus monkeys were most attached to the white monkey that provided contact comfort, not food. Although Harlow monkeys were with animals, it is supported by Schaffer and Emerson’s research. These research studies, therefore, suggest that the learning explanation is oversimplified and ignores other important factors such as contact comfort.