Attachment - Learning Theory

Question 1

How are attachments formed, according to this theory?

Answer 1

States that attachment is the product of learning, rather than being innate

Question 2

Explain this theory in terms of classical conditioning.

Answer 2

The infant associates the ‘feeder’, a neutral stimulus, with pleasure, an innate response, and food, as food pleasures the infant.

Eventually, the ‘feeder’ stimulates a feeling of pleasure for the infant by themselves, without food, forming an attachment.

Question 3

Explain this theory in terms of operant conditioning.

Answer 3

The ‘feeder’ rewards the infant by feeding it, so the infant associates the ‘feeder’ with the reward and thus repeats the actions.

Food is the primary reinfocer and the ‘feeder’ is the secondary reinforcer.

Food hereby reduces the infant’s discomfort.

The presence of the ‘feeder’ also reduces discomfort because it brings the food to the infant.

This reinforces the actions of the infant to get food.

Question 4

What are some strengths of the Learning Theory?

Answer 4

• Provides adequate explanation of how attachments form
• Dollard & Miller found that infants are fed over 2,000 times in their first year

Question 5

What are some weakness of the Learning Theory?

Answer 5

• Attachments are able to form with those who do not feed the infant
  
  • Shaffer & Emerson found that children can have in excess of 20 attachments
• Only explains simple behaviours
  
  • Attachment is far more complex
• Very little research to support it
• Harlow’s monkey study showed that food was not the most important factor, as it spent 22 hours on the cloth ‘mother’