Attachment Learning Theory Flashcards
Classical conditioning in attachment
UCS: food
UCR: pleasure
NS: mother
CS: mother
CR: pleasure
The baby has to learn to from an attachment with their mother. By the process of classical conditioning, the baby forms an association between the mother and the feeling of pleasure that comes from being fed. As first, the baby simply feels comforted by food, however each time he is fed, the mother is there too. He quickly associates the mother with the pleasure of being fed. Before long, the mother stimulated a feeling pleasure on her own, even without food. This means the baby feels happier when the mother is near. It is the beginning of attachment
Operant conditioning in attachment
- Baby performs an action e.g cries
- Baby receives a reward e.g food relieves hunger
- The reward reinforces the action, so the baby repeats it
The baby has to learn to form an attachment with his mother. In the process of operant conditioning, the mother rewards the infant by feeding him, so the infant associates the mother with the reward, and repeats any action that brings her close. This happens because food brings a feeling of pleasure to the baby. Food is a primary reinforcer: by removing discomfort, it reinforces the behaviour that led to its arrival. But food never comes without the mother bringing it, so the mother becomes the secondary reinforcer- even without bringing food, the presence of the mother reduces discomfort. The baby will therefore repeat any action which brings the caregiver close.
