Explanations of attachment: Learning theory Flashcards
what is a learning theory
Set of theories that emphasise the role of learning in the acquisition of behaviour
What are the explanations for learning of behaviour
classical conditioning
operant conditioning
What is the theory sometimes called, and why
The theory is sometimes called cupboard love as children learn to love whoever feeds them.
classical conditioning
Classical conditioning involves learning to associate two stimuli so you respond to one in the same way in the way you already respond to another.
In attachment, food serves as an unconditioned stimuli (UCS) and being fed gives us comfort which is an unconditioned response (UCR).The mother is a neutral stimuli (NS) as they elicit no response. Over time, when the mother provides food they become associated with food. When the baby sees the mother there is an expectation of food, and the neutral stimuli has become the conditioned stimuli (CS). Once conditioning has taken place, the sight of the mother produces a conditioned response (CR) of comfort. This is when an attachment has formed
operant conditioning
Attachment is formed through consequences of behaviour. If behaviour is reinforced its likely to be repeated. Negative reinforcement is when something is taken away making behaviour more likely to be repeated. In the case of attachment, the baby is reinforced for crying by taking away feeling of hunger when they are fed by the mother. The mother is reinforced by taking away crying of the baby by feeding the baby.
Positive reinforcement is when something is added that makes behaviour more likely to be repeated. In the case of attachment, the baby is reinforced as crying elicits a response from the mother. The mother is reinforced by the rewarding experience of the baby smiling.
Evaluation of learning theory as an explanation of attachment (brief)
weakness - Harlow criticises, however based on animal p’s
weakness - ignores biological factors
strength - support from Dollard and Miller
Weaknesses of learning theory as an explanation of attachment
Weakness – Harlow criticises learning theory of attachment. Harlow found that when monkeys were faced with a stressful environment, they sought comfort over food. This means that attachment is formed by seeking pleasure in whoever comforts the child rather than who feeds the child. Therefore questions the validity of attachments being formed through learning. HOWEVER, Harlow’s study on attachment is based on animal p’s that are different to humans. For example, our cognitive ability and language comprehension is much more complex than animals. This means we can’t assume attachment for humans is developed through comfort rather than whoever feeds them. Therefore, increasing our confidence in assuming that attachment is learned in humans
Weakness – the learning theory has an over emphasis on the role of nurture and ignores how biological factors might be involved in forming attachments. For example, Bowlby’s monotropic theory outlines how attachments are formed due to innate factors, like adaptation and social releases. Neither of which are taught or learnt. Therefore suggests the learning theory is limited in its ability to explain the formation of attachment as it ignores the biological factors that are involved.
strengths of learning theory as an explanation of attachment
Support from Dollard and Miller as they argued that babies are fed 2000 times in their first year, generally by their main carer. This creates ample opportunity for the carer to be associated with the removal of hunger, a form of negative reinforcement. Therefore, this gives support to the idea that attachments are learned through operant conditioning.
