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

places emphasis on the caregiver as the provider of food, and infant learns to love who feeds them

Question 3

What is the approach also know as?

Answer 3

cupboard love approach

Question 4

what is classical conditioning?

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Explain classical conditioning of attachment

Answer 5

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 6

what is operant conditioning?

Answer 6

Involves learning through consequences of behaviour

Question 7

Explain positive reinforcement in attachment

Answer 7

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

Question 8

How does a caregiver respond when crying is directed for comfort

Answer 8

comforting social suppressor behaviour

Question 9

explain negative reinforcement in attachment

Answer 9

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

Question 10

what is the drive reduction theory?

Answer 10

The idea that all motivation comes from the result of biological needs

Question 11

What is our primary drive?

Answer 11

Hunger

Question 12

What did Sears say about caregivers and the primary drive?

Answer 12

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

Question 13

What is the secondary drive?

Answer 13

Attachment

Question 14

what counter evidence is there from animals studies?

Answer 14

Lorenz’s geese imprinted on the first moving object they saw regardless of whether object was associated with food

Harlows monkeys preferred contact comfort (cloth wired) in preference to a wire one which provided milk

Question 15

What counter evidence is there from studies on humans?

Answer 15

-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
suggests factors do not relate to food

Question 16

Why may conditioning have a part to play in attachment ?

Answer 16

-unlikely that food plays a central role but conditioning may still play a role
-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 17

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

Answer 17

-learning theory see babies as playing a passive role , but research shows babies play a active role
-Fieldman & Eidelman, –Meltzoff and Moore & Isabella et al