Explanations: Learning Theory Flashcards
The learning theory.
Views children as being born with clean slates.
Everything we know is learned through experiences.
Attachments formed through classical and operant conditioning.
What is meant by ‘cupboard love’?
The idea that we form attachments with those providing us with food.
Hunger is a primary drive - attachment is the result of an association formed between the CG and the satisfaction of the primary drive reduction.
Classical conditioning.
TO DO WITH ASSOCIATION.
Learning to associate two stimuli together so that we begin to respond to them in the same way.
The baby forms an attachment between the mother who is a neutral stimulus, and the feeling of pleasure that comes with being fed, an innate unconditioned response.
Baby associates mother with the pleasure of being fed as the mother is always present when the baby is being fed and so the mother becomes a conditioned stimulus.
Operant conditioning.
TO DO WITH REINFORCEMENT.
Involves learning from the consequences of behaviour, if a behaviour produces a pleasant consequence, then it is likely to be repeated again.
The child carries out an action such as crying which triggers a response, such as the mother feeding or comforting the baby - the child associates the mother with these rewards.
Positive reinforcement - giving something pleasant to increase or maintain a certain type of behaviour.
Negative reinforcement - Taking something unpleasant away to increase or maintain a certain type of behaviour.
Unconditioned stimulus.
Feature that causes a natural reflex action.
Unconditioned response.
Natural reflex action.
Neutral stimulus.
Feature that produces a neutral response.
Conditioned stimulus.
Feature that has an effect through association with an unconditioned stimulus.
Conditioned response.
Behaviour elicited by the conditioned stimulus.
Primary drive.
Innate, biological motivator.
Secondary drive.
Learnt through associaation.
Give 2 limitations of the learning theory of attachment.
- Contradictory evidence.
-Harlow demonstrated that contact comfort was more important in the development of attachment than food.
-Baby monkeys were more attached to the cloth covered wire model mother regardless of whether it was dispensing milk.
-Shows there is no unconditioned stimulus in food and even if there is, it has very little influence upon the formation of attachments. - Ignores other factors associated with forming attachments.
-Quality of attachment is associated with reciprocity and interactional synchrony.
-Crotwell et al found that PCIT training has a positive impact on interactional synchrony which can result in a good quality attachment.
-Suggests there are other factors which impact attachment.
-LT is a reductionist theory as it is over-simplistic and does not consider the emotional nature of attachment.
What is one strength of the LT?
- Association may still play a role in attachment
Babies may associate primary care giver with contact comfort rather than food.
Shows classical conditioning influences attachment
Therefore, associating CG with something other than food may be a viable explanation.
