Chapter 3.5 - Explanations of attachment: Learning theory

Question 1

What is the learning theory?

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Describe the learning theory

Answer 2

Dollard and Miller (1950)
- Infant attachment can be explained using the cupboard love theory, emphasises the importance of the attachment figure as a provider of food

Question 3

Describe classical conditioning in terms of the learning theory

Answer 3

• Associating two stimuli together
• Food is an unconditioned stimulus
• Being fed elicits a response of please which is unlearned, unconditioned response
• Caregiver is a neutral stimulus
• Over time caregiver is associated with food
• The NS becomes a CS
• Seeing the NS produces a CR of pleasure (love)

Question 4

Describe operant conditioning in terms of the learning theory

Answer 4

• Learning the consequences of behaviour
• Pleasant consequence, behaviour is reinforced
• Unpleasant consequence, punishment, behaviour is not repeated
• Crying leads to a response from the caregiver
• The baby directs crying for comfort from the caregiver who responds with comforting social suppressor behaviour
• Reinforcement is a two way process
• Caregiver receives negative reinforcement as the crying stops
• Interplay of mutual reinforcement strengthens an attachment

Question 5

Describe drives in terms of the learning theory

Answer 5

• Drive reduction
• Hunger is the primary drive, innate biological motivator to eat in order to reduce the hunger drive
• As caregivers provide food, the primary drive of hunger becomes generalised to them
• Attachment is then a secondary drive learned by an association between the caregiver and the satisfaction of a primary drive

Question 6

What is a limitation of the learning theory? (counter-evidence from animal studies)

Answer 6

• Learning theory has a lack of support from studies conducted on animals
• Lorenz’s geese imprinted on the first moving object they saw whether the object was associated with food
• Harlow’s monkeys displayed attachment behaviour towards a soft surrogate mother in preference to the wire one which provided milk
• Shows that factors other than association with food are important in the formation of attachments

Question 7

What is a limitation of the learning theory? (counter-evidence from human studies)

Answer 7

• Learning theory has a lack of support from human studies
• Schaffer and Emerson (1964) found that babies tended to form their main attachment to their mother regardless of whether she was the one who usually fed them
• Isabella (1989) found that high levels of interactional synchrony predicted the quality of attachment, factors aren’t related to feeding
• Shows that factors other than association with food are important in the formation of attachments

Question 8

What is a strength of the learning theory? (some conditioning may be involved)

Answer 8

• Association with food may not play a central role in attachment but conditioning may still play a role
• Babies might associate feeling warm and comfortable with the presence of a particular adult, and this may influence the baby’s choice of their main attachment figure
• The learning theory may still be useful in understanding the development of attachments

Question 9

What is a counterpoint of the learning theory?

Answer 9

• Both classical and operant conditioning explanations see the baby playing a relatively passive role in attachment development, simply responding to associations with comfort or reward
• Research shows that babies take a very active role in the interactions that produce attachment
• Conditioning may not be an adequate explanation of any aspect of attachment

Question 10

What is another evaluation point of the learning theory? (social learning theory)

Answer 10

• 1988 study suggests that parents teach children to love them by demonstrating model attachment behaviours such as hugging
• They reinforce loving behaviour by showing approval when babies display their own attachment behaviours
• This perspective is based around the two-way interaction between baby and adult, so it fits better with research into the importance of reciprocity