Explanations of attachment: learning theory

Question 1

Who came up with the learning theory of attachment?

Answer 1

Dollard and Miller

Question 2

What is the basis of the learning theory of attachment?

Answer 2

• cupboard love approach as it suggest that babies learns to love whoever feeds them

Question 3

What is classical conditioning?

Answer 3

• earning to associate two stimuli together so we begin to respond to one in the same way we already respond to the other

Question 4

How does classical conditioning work in attachment?

Answer 4

1) Food (UCS) produces pleasure (UCR)
2) Caregiver (NS) produces no response
3) Food (UCS) + Caregiver (NS) =pleasure (UCR)
4) Caregiver (CS) produces pleasure (CR)

Question 5

What is operant conditioning?

Answer 5

Involves learning through consequences of behaviour

Question 6

How does positive reinforcement work in attachment?

Answer 6

• baby is positively reinforced when they cry as mother feeds, so crying behaviour is repeated

Question 7

How does a caregiver respond when crying is directed for comfort?

Answer 7

• respond with comforting social suppressor behaviour

Question 8

How does negative reinforcement work in attachment?

Answer 8

• the caregiver is negatively reinforced because the crying stops, escaping from unpleasant behaviour is reinforced

Question 9

What is the drive reduction theory?

Answer 9

The idea that all motivation comes from the result of biological needs
- primary drive =hunger

Question 10

What did Sears say about caregivers and the primary drive?

Answer 10

• As caregivers provide food the primary drive of hunger becomes generalised to them

Question 11

What is the secondary drive?

Answer 11

Attachment learned by an association between caregiver and the satisfaction of the primary drive

Question 12

What is a limitation of the learning theory of attachment?

Answer 12

• counter evidence from animal studies
• e.g. Lorenz’s geese imprinted on the first moving object they saw regardless of whether object was associated with food
• Harlow’s monkeys preferred contact comfort (cloth wired) in preference to a wire one which provided milk
• factors other than food important in formation

Question 13

What is another limitation of the learning theory of attachment?

Answer 13

• counter evidence from studies of human babies
• Schaffer & Emerson found that babies tended to form their main attachment to mother regardless of feeding
• Isabella et al- high levels of synchrony predicted quality of attachment
• factors do not relate to food > not main factor

Question 14

What is a strength of the learning theory pf attachment?

Answer 14

• elements of conditioning could be involved in attachment
• unlikely that food plays a central role but conditioning may still play a role
• e.g. baby may associate feeling warm and comfortable with the presence of a particular adult which influences baby’s choice of main attachment figure
  learning theory=still useful

Question 15

What is a counterpoint of the strength that conditioning may be involved?

Answer 15

• learning theory see babies as playing a passive role in attachment development, but research shows babies play a active role
• Fieldman & Eidelman, –Meltzoff and Moore & Isabella et al
• conditioning not an adequate explanation