Attachment- Learning Theory

Question 1

Dollard and Miller (1950)

Answer 1

Learning theory of attachment:
Children learn to become attached to caregivers because they give them food.
Often referred to as ‘cupboard love’

Question 2

Classical conditioning on attachment

Answer 2

Baby’s food is the UCS and baby feels pleasure (UCR).
Mother is the NS and feeds the baby so becomes the CS.

Question 3

Operant conditioning on attachment

Answer 3

Baby cries (action) and receives negative reinforcer of food to relieve hunger, so baby repeats the action of crying. The food is the primary reinforcer and the mother becomes the secondary reinforcer.

Question 4

Primary reinforcer

Answer 4

What the infant wants

Question 5

Secondary reinforcer

Answer 5

Anything that becomes rewarding through association with the primary reinforcer.

Question 6

Strengths of learning theory of attachment

Answer 6

Schaffer and Emerson (1964)

Question 7

Weaknesses of learning theory

Answer 7

Animal studies:

Lorenz- imprinting shows attachment to the first living thing they saw

Harlow- contact comfort shows attachment to the cloth mother rather than the feeding wire mother