Explanations of attachment: Learning theory

Question 1

Learning theory - definition

Answer 1

Set of theories from the behaviourist approach, emphasise the role of learning in the acquisition of behaviour.

• classical conditioning
• operant conditioning

Question 2

Classical conditioning

Answer 2

• Learning to associate 2 stimuli together so that we begin to respond to one in the same way as we already respond to the other
• Unconditioned stimulus = food
• Unconditioned response = pleasure of being fed (not learnt)
• a caregiver starts as a neutral stimulus
• When same person provides the food over time they become associated with ‘food’
• The neutral stimulus –> Conditioned Stimulus

UC –> UR
NS –> no response
US + NS –> UR
CS –> CR

Question 3

Operant conditioning

Answer 3

• Learning to repeat behaviour, or not, depending on its consequences
• If a behaviour produces a pleasant consequence, that behaviour is likely to be repeated again = behaviour reinforced
• If a behaviour produces an unpleasant consequence it is less likely to be repeated
• e.g. crying leads to a response from caregiver, being fed
• This reinforcement is a two-way process. At the same time as the baby is reinforced for crying, the caregiver receives negative reinforcement because the crying stops – escaping from something unpleasant is reinforcing