Attachment- The Learning Theory Of Attachment

Question 1

Explain the “cupboard love” learning theory with regards to classical conditioning

Answer 1

Food (UCS) — pleasure (UCR)
Mother (NS) — no pleasure (NR)
Food (UCS) + mother (NS) — pleasure (UCR)
Mother (CS) — pleasure (CR)

Question 2

Explain the example of attachment through negative reinforcement

Answer 2

Baby-hungry. Cries.
Mother-hears crying. Feeds.
Baby-stops crying.
Mother negatively reinforced, baby positively reinforced.

Question 3

What is a strength + however of the learning theory of attachment?

Answer 3

Adequate explanation.
Logical to suggest that attachment can be associated with parents and role as caregivers.
Food/crying CC/OC example.
High internal validity.

However,
Lack of evidence to support from animal studies. E.g. Lorenz’s geese imprinting- no association with food. Harlows monkeys found to prefer non feeding mother.
Low internal validity.

Question 4

What is a weakness of the learning theory of attachment?

Answer 4

Reductionist.
Result of conditioning- nurture based view. Environmentally reductionist- reduce complex attachment down to simple stimulus-response association.