Explanations of Attachment: Learning Theory Flashcards
What is the Classical Conditioning of Attachment?
Food (UCS) –> Pleasure (UCR)
Caregiver (NS) –> No Response
Food (UCS) + Caregiver (NS) –> UCR
Caregiver (CS) –> Pleasure (CR)
What is the Operant Conditioning Theory of Attachment?
It can explain why babies cry for comfort. Crying leads to a response from the caregiver, and if they provide the correct response then crying is reinforced. They then direct crying for comfort towards the caregiver who responds with comforting behaviour. The caregiver also receives negative reinforcement - the crying stops.
What is the concept of Attachment as a Secondary Drive?
Learning theory draws on the concept of drive reduction. Hunger can be thought of as a primary drive - we are motivated to eat to avoid hunger. Sears suggested that the primary drive of hunger becomes generalised to the caregiver, therefore being a secondary drive behind hunger.
What is the limitation - Counter-evidence from animal studies?
There is a lack of support from animal studies. For example, Lorenz’s geese imprinted on the first moving object they saw, regardless of food association. Harlow’s monkeys also provide no evidence for the importance of food. This shows that factors other than association with food are important in the formation of attachments.
What is the limitation - Counter-evidence from studies on humans?
A further limitation is lack of support from Schaffer and Emerson. They found that babies formed their main attachment to the mother regardless of whether or not they usually fed them. In another study, Isabella found high levels of interactional synchrony predicted the quality of attachment. This suggests that food is not the main factor in the formation of human attachments.
What is the strength - Some conditioning may be involed
One strength is that elements of conditioning could be involved in some aspects - it seems unlikely that association with food is the key driver, but conditioning may play a role. For example, the baby may associate feelings of warmth and safety with a particular adult - forming an attachment. This means that learning theory may still be useful in understanding development of attachments
What is the counterpoint for - some conditioning may be involved
Both classical and operant conditions see the baby playing a passive role in forming attachment, however research shows that babies take an active role in the interactions that produce attachment - interactional synchrony and reciprocity. This means conditioning may not be an adequate explanation of attachment.
