Explanations of Attachment: Learning theory

Question 1

What is learning theory?

Answer 1

• Proposes all behaviour is learnt rather than innate.
• Put forward by behaviourist who suggest attachment is learned through classical or operant conditioning
• Called the ‘cupboard love theory’ as it suggests attachment is based on provision of food alone

Question 2

Describe classical conditioning in terms of attachement

Answer 2

• Food is the UCS which produces the UCR of pleasure.
• During an infant’s early months, certain people or objects become associated with food as they are present when the infant is fed.
• The NS is consistently associated with the UCS. The NS now produces the CS.

Question 3

Describe operant conditioning in terms of attachment

Answer 3

• Dollard and Miller (1950) offered the explanation of operant conditioning and drive reduction theory.
• A ‘drive’ is something that motivates behaviour, so the drive for a hungry infant is to reduce the accompanying discomfort.
• When fed, drive is reduced so produces pleasure (positive reinforcement). Behaviour that led being fed is more likely to be repeated as it was rewarded. Food becomes a primary reinforcer as it supplied the reward
• Through classical conditioning, the person supplying food becomes a secondary reinforcer.
• Attachment occurs as the child seeks the person who can supply the reward

Question 4

Describe social learning theory in terms of attachment

Answer 4

• Hay and Vespo (1988) suggested modelling can be applied to explain attachment
• Children observe their parent’s affectionate behaviour and imitate this. Parents would instruct their children on how to behave in relationships and would reward appropriate attachment behaviour (hugs and kisses)

Question 5

Give evaluation for learning theory (animals)

Answer 5

• Largely based on animal research e.g. Skinners research.
• Behaviourists believe human behaviour doesn’t differ to animal when it comes to learning as our behavioural patterns are constructed from the same stimuli and responses so we can generalise animal studies to humans
• However, complex human behaviour, attachment, cannot be explained through conditioning. Attachment involves innate predispositions and mental activity that may be explained through conditioning.
• Behaviourist explanations may lack validity as they present an oversimplified version of human behaviour

Question 6

Give evaluation for learning theory (food)

Answer 6

• Suggests food is the key element in the formation of attachment.
• Harlow (1959) showed that infant rhesus monkeys were most ‘attached’ to the cloth mother that provided contact comfort, not food. Although it was with animals, it was supported by Schaffer and Emerson’s research.
• Suggests that learning theory is oversimplified and ignores important factors like contact comfort

Question 7

Give evaluation for learning theory (explanatory power)

Answer 7

• May not provide a full explanation but it has some value
• Infants do learn through association and reinforcement, but food may not be the main reinforcer. It may be responsiveness from a caregiver that is a reward and assists in the formation of attachment, which isn’t included in learn theory.
• Therefore it has some explanatory power and can explain aspects of attachment

Question 8

Give evaluation for learning theory (alternative explanation)

Answer 8

• Bowlby’s theory has many advantages over learning theory
• It explains why attachments form, while learning theory only says how, and the advantages of attachment such as protection which has evolved as a behaviour which would enhance survival
• It also offers a better explanation of the facts. For example, it can explain Schaffer and Emerson’s findings that infants are not always most strongly attached to the person who feeds them