Explanations of attachment: Learning theory Flashcards
What is the learning theory?
Set of theories from behaviourist approach to psychology that emphasise role of learning in aquisition of behaviour.
Explanations of learning include classical & operant conditioning
What are the two types of explanation for learning behaviour?
Classical conditioning
Operant conditioning
What is classical conditioning?
Involves learning to associate two stimuli together so that we begin to respond to one in the same way as we already respond to the other
In the case of attachment food serves as an unconditioned stimulus- being fed gives us pleasure-we dont have to learn it
Give an example of a conditioned, neutral and unconditioned stimulus.
- Unconditioned-Food (as being fed gives us pleasure)
- Neutral- A caregiver starts as neutral i.e something that produces no response- when caregiver provides food over time become associated w food
- Conditioned- When baby sees caregiver there is expectation of food. Neutral stimulus has become a conditioned stimulus
What is operant conditioning?
- Involves learning from the consequences of behaviour
- If a behaviour produces pleasant consequence, that behaviour is likely to be repeated again- behaviour is said to be reinforced.
- If behaviour produces unpleasant cosequence its less likely to be repeated
What is meant by ‘reinforced’?
Escaping from something unpleasant is reinforcing
e.g. At same time as the baby is reinforced for crying the caregiver recieves negative reinforcement (taken aways e.g. crying) because the crying stops
What are the three types of reinforcement?
Postive reinforcement
Negative reinforcement
Punishment
What is postive reinforcement?
Introducing a desirable stimulus (i.e., a reward) to encourage the behavior that is desired
What is negative reinforcement?
A behaviour performed in response to a negative stimulus in the expectation that the negative stimulus will be removed.
for example: a mother comforting a crying child
What is punishment?
When a certain behaviour produces an unpleasant consequence
How can operant conditioning explain why babies cry for comfort?
- Crying leads to a response from caregiver e.g feeding
- As long as caregiver provides correct response crying is reinforced (strengthend)
- Baby then directs crying for comfort towards caregiver who responds with comforting ‘social suppressor’ behaviour
- This reinforcement is a 2-way process
As well as conditioning what other concept does the learning theory draw onto?
Drive reduction:
Hunger can be thought of as a primary drive- we are motivated to eat in order to reduce the hunger drive
Attachment is thought of as a secondary drive learned by an association between the caregiver & satisfaction of a primary drive
What is one limitation of the learning theory as an explanation of attachment?
The lack of support from studies conducted on animals
e.g. Lorenzos geese imprinted on 1st moving object they saw not whether it was associated with food or not
Harlow’s study showed no support for importance of food- (chose comfort cloth M over wire food/milk M)
Shows that factors other than association with food are important in the formation of attachments
Give one strength of the learning theory?
- Elements of conditioning could be involved in some aspects of attachments
- Seems unlikely food play’s central role in attachment but conditioning may still play a role
e.g. baby may feel warm & comfortable with particular adult- may influence baby’s choice of main attachment figure
Means that learning theory may still be useful in understanding the development of attachments
Give a further limitation of the learning theory.
- Lack of support from studies of human babies
e.g. schaffer & emerson found that babies tend to form to their main attachment to their mother regardless if she was the one who usually fed them
Isabella et al found high level of interactional synchrony predicted quality of attachment
- Again suggests food is not the main factor in nthe formation of human attachments
