Expalnations Of Attachment: Learning Theory

Question 1

Who were dollard and miller

Answer 1

Learning theorists who proposed caregiver infant attachment can be explained by the learning theory

Question 2

What was Dollard and millers theory

Answer 2

Cupboard love - emphasises the importance of the attachment figure as a provider of food

Question 3

How is classical conditioning linked to cupboard love

Answer 3

Food - unconditioned stimulus
Being fed gives pleasure - unconditioned response
Caregiver - neutral stimulus and then conditioned stimulus
Conditioned response - pleasure when seeing the caregiver

Question 4

How is operant conditions linked to attachment behaviours

Answer 4

Crying for comfort -reinforcement as the baby is comforted when they cry

Question 5

Explain attachment as a secondary drive

Answer 5

Hunger - primary drive as it is innate
Attachment - secondary drive learned by association between caregiver and satisfaction of the primary drive (sEARS et al)

Question 6

What are the limitations to learning theory

Answer 6

• counter evidence in animals studies (Harlow’s monkey chose comfort over food)
• lack of support from human babies - Isabella et all said interactional synchrony provided strong attachments (not to do with food)

Question 7

What is a strength of learning theory

Answer 7

Some elements of conditioning could be involved in attachment
Not with food but baby may learn to associate feeling safe with a certain adult thus strengthening attachment