Attchment - Learning Theory Flashcards
What is the learning theory?
A set of theories from the behaviourist approach to psychology that emphasise the role of learning in the acquisition of behaviour. Explanations for learning of behaviour include classical and operant conditioning.
What is classical conditioning?
Involves learning to associate to stimulate together so that we begin to respond to one and the same way as we already respond to the other.
In terms of attachment, what is classical conditioning conditioning?
In the case of attachment food serves as an unconditioned stimulus, being fed gives us pleasure. We don’t have to learn that it is an unconditional response. A caregiver start as a neutral stimulus when the caregiver provides food overtime they become associated with the food the neutral stimulus has become a stimulus. And the sight of the caregiver gives the condition response of pleasure.
What is operant conditioning?
Learning from the consequences of behaviour if behaviour produces a pleasant consequence that behaviours likely to be repeated again. The behaviour said to be reinforced if behaviour produces an unpleasant consequence it is less likely to be repeated.
What is operant conditioning in terms of attachment?
Operant conditioning can explain why babies cry for comfort – an important behaviour in building attachment crying leads to a response from the caregiver for example feeding as long as the caregiver provides the correct response crying is reinforced the baby then directs crying for comfort towards the caregiver who responds with comforting social suppressor behaviour. Reinforcement is a two-way process. At the same time the baby is reinforced for crying the caregiver receives negative reinforcement because the crying stops escaping from something unpleasant is reinforcing this interplay of mutual reinforcement strengthens an attachment.
