Explanations of Attachment: Learning theory

Question 1

Who proposed the Learning theory explanation of caregiver infant interaction

Answer 1

Dollard and Miller

Question 2

Cupboard love

Answer 2

Cupboard love approach emphasises the importance of the caregiver as a provider for food.

In simple terms:
Baby loves whoever feeds them.

Question 3

Use classical conditioning to explain the cupboard love approach

Answer 3

Classical conditioning- learning to associate two stimuli together.

Food———> Pleasure
UCS UCR

Mother———>no response
NS

Food+mother———–>Pleasure
UCS+ NS UCR

Mother———>pleasure
CS CR

Question 4

How does operant conditioning strengthen the bond of Attachment

Answer 4

Operant conditioning- learning to repeat behaviour.

Crying leads to a response from the caregiver, e.g. feeding.
As long as the mother feeds the baby it reinforces the behaviour. The baby direct crying for comfort towards the caregiver who responds with comforting social suppressor behaviour.
Reinforcement is a two way process- the baby is reinforced for crying while the mother receives negative reinforcement because the crying stops.

Question 5

Attachment as a secondary drive

Answer 5

Drive reduction
Hunger is a primary drive -innate biological motivator . (we eat to reduce the hunger drive). Sear et al argue that as caregiver provide them food the primary drive of hunger becomes generalised to them. Therefore attachment is a secondary drive learnt by the association between the caregiver and the satisfaction of the primary drive