explanations of attachment - learning theory

Question 1

learning theory basis - dollard and miller

Answer 1

• we attach to the person that feeds us

Question 2

classical conditioning

Answer 2

• learning to associate two stimuli together so we begin to respond to one in the same way as the other
• in the case of attachment, food is the unconditioned stimulus, as being fed gives us pleasure, which is an unconditioned response
• a caregiver starts as a neutral stimulus (something that produces no response), however as the caregiver provides food they will overtime become associated with food
• when the baby then sees the caregiver, there will be an expectation for food, as the neutral stimulus has become the conditioned stimulus
• once conditioning has taken place, the sight of the caregiver produces a feeling of pleasure, an attachment is formed

Question 3

operant conditioning

Answer 3

• learning from the consequences of behaviour, if the behaviour produces a pleasant consequence, it is likely to happen again (reinforced), whereas if it produces a punishment , it is less likely to be repeated
• operant conditioning can explain why babies cry for comfort, it leads to a response from the caregiver, and as long as this response is correct, the crying is reinforced and happens again (positive reinforcement)
• the baby then directs crying toward the caregiver who responds with comforting ‘social suppressor’ behaviour
• two way process, at the same time as the baby is reinforced for crying, the caregiver receives negative reinforcement because the crying stops, therefore escaping from something unpleasant

Question 4

attachment as a secondary drive

Answer 4

• learning theory also draws on the concept of drive reduction
• hunger can be thought of as a primary drive, its an innate and biological motivator, we are motivated to eat in order to reduce the hunger drive
• robert sears suggested that, as caregivers provide food, the primary drive of hunger becomes generalised to them
• therefore attachment is a secondary drive learned by association between the caregiver and the satisfaction of a hunger drive

Question 5

evaluation - counter-evidence from animal studies

Answer 5

• lack of support from studies on animals
• Lorenz’s geese imprinted on the first moving object they saw, regardless of whether it provided them with food
• Harlow’s research shows no correlation with the importance of food, monkeys showed preference to cloth mother even though wire ones provided milk, contact comfort more important
• factors other than association with food are important in the formation of attachments
• reductionist explanation, too simple, not holistic

Question 6

evaluation - counter-evidence from human studies

Answer 6

• lack of support from studies on human babies
• schaffer and emerson found that babies usually formed their main attachment to their mothers regardless of who fed them most, possibly to do with quality of attachment instead
• isabella found that high levels of interactional synchrony predicted the quality of attachment
• these factors aren’t related to food in any way
• again suggests that food is not the main factor in formation of attachments
• reductionist explanation, too simple, not holistic

Question 7

evaluation - some conditioning may be involved

Answer 7

• strength is that some elements of conditioning may still be involved
• it is unlikely that association with food plays an important role, but conditioning may
• for example, a baby may feel warm and comfortable when in the presence of a particular adult, and this may affect who they end up forming attachments with
• learning theory may still be useful in understanding the development of attachments, OC can be applied
• does have face validity