explanation: learning theory Flashcards
what did Dollard and Miller propose about the learning theory?
Dollard and Miller proposed that caregiver-infant attachment can be explained by learning theory. They called this ‘Cupboard Love’ as it emphasises the importance of the caregiver as a provider of food . So children learn to love whoever feeds them.
describe the process of classical conditioning
According to learning theory, the baby has to learn to form an attachment with his mother
At first, the baby simply feels pleasure (unconditioned response) as a result of being fed (unconditioned stimulus). Being fed is an unconditioned stimulus because it naturally produces a response (pleasure). the baby associates the mother with pleasure from being fed.
The mother has become the conditioned stimulus and she produced a conditioned response, which is pleasure.
discuss operant conditioning
Crying
The baby’s behaviour is being reinforced through the process of positive reinforcement. The caregiver’s response is feeding. Therefore, the baby will then cry for comfort from the caregiver, who responds with comforting behaviour. This facilitates attachment.
Hunger
Caregivers remove the negative feelings surrounding hunger, as they respond by feeding. Therefore, the caregiver becomes a source of reinforcement. This is an example of negative reinforcement.
describe attachment as a second drive
Learning theory also draws on the concept of drive reduction.
Sean et al. suggested that as caregivers provide food, the primary drive for hunger becomes generalised to them. Therefore attachment is a secondary drive learned by an association between the caregiver and the satisfaction of the primary drive.
Evaluation: weakness
the theory ignores primary attachment
Feeding does not appear to be an important factor in human attachments. Schaffer and Emmerson found that babies form an attachment with primary caregivers even if they are not the main feeder.
This contrasts the learning theory of explanation of attachment which suggests that feeding is the key element in attachment.
evaluation: limitation
there could be better explanations from the social learning theory
Social learning theory suggests that we observe a model’s behaviour and learn through imitation. Hence, the social learning theory could suggest that the parents teach their children to love. For example hugging the child or family members shows rewarding good attachment behaviour.
Evaluation: strength
explanations are plausible and scientific
It is common that the person who is providing for the needs of the baby forms a strong attachment.
Therefore, this theory provides an adequate explanation of how attachments are formed.
We do learn through association and reinforcement
evaluation: weakness =ignores interactions and reciprocity
Reciprocity states that attachment is often to the caregiver who is the most interactive and sensitive to the infants signals/facial expressions.
However, interaction has been shown to be more important than feeding.
