Evaluating Explanations Of Attachment: Learning Theory

Question 1

Learning theory is based on research with animals:

Answer 1

Non behaviourists argue that complex behaviours such as attachments cannot be based on animals studies and therefore behaviourist explanations may lack validity due to oversimplifying

Question 2

Learning theory has some explanatory power:

Answer 2

Infants learn through association and reinforcement but food may not be the main reinforcer but instead the attention and responsiveness from the caregiver that aids attachment

Question 3

Drive reduction theory is largely ignored today:

Answer 3

Drive reduction is now rejected as it only explains a limited number of behaviours as many things that people do have nothing to do with reducing comfort. Also this theory doesn’t explain secondary reinforcers that don’t reduce comfort but are still reinforcing