Explanations of attachment: Learning theory

Question 1

describe the learning theory of attachment

Answer 1

learning theorists approach is sometimes called a ‘cupboard love’ approach because it emphasises the importance of the attachment figure as a provider of food
emphasise the role of learning in the acquisition of behaviour

Question 2

describe classical conditioning in the case of attachment

Answer 2

food serves as an UCS, being fed gives pleasure, this is an UCR
a caregiver starts as a NS, when they begin to provide food over time they become associated with food
when the baby sees this person there is an expectation of food, the NS has become a CS
the sight of the caregiver then produces a CR of pleasure
to learning theorists, this CR is love, an attachment is formed and the caregiver becomes an attachment figure

Question 3

describe operant conditioning in the case of attachment

Answer 3

OC can explain why babies cry for comfort - an important behaviour in building attachment
crying leads to a response from the caregiver, e.g., feeding
if the caregiver provides the correct response, crying is reinforced
the baby then directs crying for comfort towards the caregiver who responds with comforting ‘social suppressor’ behaviour
this is a two-way process, the caregiver receives negative reinforcement as the crying stops, escaping from something unpleasant
this interplay strengthens attachment

Question 4

describe attachment as a secondary drive

Answer 4

learning theory draws on the concept of drive reduction
hunger is a primary drive, it is an innate biological motivator
sears et al. suggested that, as caregivers provide food, the primary drive of hunger becomes generalised to them
attachment is thus a secondary drive learned by an association between the caregiver and the satisfaction of a primary drive

Question 5

how is there a lack of research support from animal studies (LIMITATION)

Answer 5

lorenz’s geese imprinted on the first moving object they saw regardless of whether this object was associated with food
harlow’s research provides no support for the importance of food
therefore, factors other than association with food are important in the formation of attachments

Question 6

how is there a lack of support from studies on human babies (LIMITATION)

Answer 6

schaffer and emerson found that babies tended to form their main attachment to their mother regardless of whether she was the one who usually fed them
isabella et al. found high levels of interactional synchrony predicted the quality of attachment
therefore, further evidence suggests food is not the main factor in the formation of attachments

Question 7

how could elements of conditioning be involved in some aspects of attachment (STRENGTH)

Answer 7

it seems unlikely that association with food plays a central role in attachment, but conditioning may still play a role
e.g., a baby may associate feeling warm and comfortable with the presence of a particular adult, influencing the choice of main attachment figure
therefore, learning theory may still be useful in understanding the development of attachments

Question 8

what is the counterpoint for the elements of conditioning in attachment (LIMITATION)

Answer 8

both CC and OC see the baby as playing a relatively passive role in attachment development
research shows babies take a very active role in the interactions that produce attachment (feldman and eidelman)
therefore, conditioning may not be an adequate explanation of any aspect of attachment