Explanations for attachment - learning theory Flashcards
How does the learning theory believe attachments are formed from?
Conditioning processes (feeding) Classical and operant
How are attachments formed through classical conditioning?
Involves the pairing of food (unconditioned stimulus which produces an unconditioned response of pleasure) with the mother who eventually will produce a conditioned response of pleasure when she appears and there is no food
Why is it hard to explain attachments by conditioning?
Conditioning can explain simple behaviours but attachments are complex and have an emotional component to them
What contradicting evidence does Schaffer and Emerson provide?
in 39% of cases, the mother was not the main carer and not the main attachment figure, suggesting that feeding is not the primary explanation for attachment
How are attachments formed through operant conditioning?
The caregiver will become associated with removing the negative feeling of hunger when they feed the child (negative reinforcement) so the caregiver themselves will become the rewards
What supporting evidence did Dollard and Miller provide?
Infants are fed roughly 2000 times by their main carer in the first year which would give the caregiver ample opportunities to remove the feelings of hunger
What casts doubt on the learning theory and attachments being formed through operant conditioning?
Attachment can form with those who don’t feed them
What did Schaffer comment on the theory?
That it got it the wrong way around - babies don’t live to eat, but rather eat to live
Actively seeking stimulation and not passively receiving nutrition
What did Bowlby argue about the theory?
Babies only need food occasionally but constantly need the emotional security that an attachment figure provides
Suggests food is not the main reason for the formation of attachments
What is the issue with behaviourist explanations?
They are reductionist
Explain complex behaviours in the most simple way possible, ignoring the influence of cognitive processes or the emotional component to attachments
What did Harlow find relating to the theory?
Found that for monkeys, comfort and contact was more important than food
What did Lorenz find relating to the theory?
Found that attachments were innate and not learnt like the theory suggests
What is the issue with using animal studies?
The results aren’t fully generalisable to humans
