Explanations for attachment: Learning Theory

Question 1

Outline the learning theory of attachment (Dollard and Miller 1950)

Answer 1

-Classical condtioning: being fed (UCS) gives us pleasure (UCR) and then the baby associates caregiver (NS) with food so that the caregiver also ilicites reaction of pleasure(CR)
-Operant conditioning: baby is positively reinforced to cry as it brings a positive reaction from mother to social supressor behaviour and comfort. This is a two way process as caregiver gets negative reinforcement as crying stops

Question 2

What did Robert Sears et al. (1957) suggest?

Answer 2

• hunger is a primary drive and as caregivers provide food the drive is generalised to them and therefore attachment is a secondary drive deriving from the satisfaction of the primary drive

Question 3

What are the strengths of learning theory as an explanation for attachment?

Answer 3

-Some form of conditioning involved: unlikely food plays a central role but children may associate comfort with an adult which may shape a baby’s choice of attachment figure.

Question 4

What are the weaknesses of learning theory as an explanation for attachment?

Answer 4

-counter evidence from animal studies: In Harlow’s research monkeys did not care which mother provided milk and displayed attachment to soft model mother
Counter evidence from human studies: Schaffer and Emerson found that babies tended to form attachments with mothers regardless of if she usually fed them