explanations of attachment - learning theory

Question 1

learning theory definition

Answer 1

a set of theories from the behaviourist approach to psychology, that emphasise the role of learning in the acquisition of behvaiour. explanations for learning pf behvaiour include classical and operant conditioning

Question 2

classical conditioning of attachment - before conditioning

Answer 2

unconditioned stimulus (food) –> unconditioned response (pleasure)

neutral stimulus (caregiver) –> no response

Question 3

classical conditioning of attachment - during conditioning

Answer 3

unconditioned stimulus (food) + neutral stimulus (food) –> unconditioned response (pleasure)

Question 4

classical conditioning of attachment - after conditioning

Answer 4

conditioned stimulus (caregiver) –> conditioned response (pleasure)

Question 5

who proposed that caregiver-infant interaction can be explained by learning theory

Answer 5

learning theorists Dollard and Miller

Question 6

when did Dollard and Miller propose that caregiver-infant interaction can be explained by learning theory

Answer 6

1950

Question 7

what is Dollard and Miller learning-theory sometimes called

Answer 7

cupboard love approach

Question 8

why is Dollard and Miller learning-theory sometimes called cupboard love approach

Answer 8

emphasises the importance of the attachment figure as the provider of food (the child loves whoever feeds them)

Question 9

what is classical conditioning

Answer 9

learning to associate 2 stimuli together so that we begin to respond to one in the same way as we already respond to the other

Question 10

what is the unconditioned stimulus in attachment

Answer 10

food as being fed gives us pleasure

Question 11

what is the unconditioned response

Answer 11

pleasure as we don’t have to learn that response

Question 12

what is the neutral stimulus

Answer 12

the caregiver as produces no response

Question 13

what is the conditioned stimulus

Answer 13

caregiver as when the caregiver provides food over time they become associated with food. when the baby sees this person there is an expectation of food so the neutral stimulus has become the conditioned stimulus

Question 14

when does the conditioned response occur

Answer 14

once the conditioning has taken place

Question 15

what its the conditioned response

Answer 15

pleasure

Question 16

what is the conditioned pleasure to a learning theorist

Answer 16

love showing an attachment is formed and the caregiver becomes an attachment figure

Question 17

what is operant conditioning

Answer 17

learning through consequences of behvaiour. if the behaviour produces a pleasant consequence, the behaviour is more likely to be repeated again, so behaviour is said to be reinforced. if the behaviour produces as unpleasant consequence (punishment) it is less likely to be repeated

Question 18

what can operant conditioning be used to explain

Answer 18

why babies cry for comfort - an important behaviour in building attachment

Question 19

crying as operant conditioning

Answer 19

crying leads to a response from the caregiver for example feeding. as long as 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

Question 20

operant conditioning as reinforcement

Answer 20

two-way process. at the same time the baby is reinforced for crying, the caregiver receives negative reinforcement as the crying stops (escaping something negative). the interplay of mutual reinforcement strengthens an attachment

Question 21

what concept does learning theory focus on

Answer 21

drive reduction

Question 21

what is the primary and secondary drive

Answer 21

primary - hunger
secondary - attachment

Question 22

how is hunger the primary drive of attachment

Answer 22

its innate and a biological motivator, we are motivated to eat in order to reduce hunger drive

Question 23

who suggested attachment is a secondary drive

Answer 23

Sears et al 1957

Question 24

attachment as a secondary drive

Answer 24

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 satisfaction of a primary drive

Question 25

limitation of learning theory as an explanation of attachment - counter-evidence from animal studies

Answer 25

-learning theory explanations for attachment has a lack of support from animal studies
-Lorenz’z geese imprinted on the first moving object they saw regardless of if the object was associated with food. also, Harlow’s research with monkeys has no support for the importance of food. when given a choice, Harlow’s monkeys displayed attachment behaviours towards a soft surrogate mother in preference to the wire one which provided milk –> shows factors other than association with food are important in formation of attachments

Question 26

limitation of learning theory as an explanation of attachment - counter-evidence form studies on humans

Answer 26

-learning theory explanations is a lack of support from studies in human babies
-Schaffer and Emerson 1964 found that babies tended to form their main attachments to their mother regardless of whether she was the one who usually fed them. Isabella et al 1989 found that high levels of international synchrony predicted the quality of the attachment which is not related to feeding –> suggests food is not the main factor in formation of human attachments

Question 27

strength of learning theory as an explanation of attachment - some conditioning may be involved

Answer 27

-strength of learning theory is that elements of conditioning could be involved in some aspects of attachment
-it seems unlikely that association with food plays a central role in attachment, but conditioning may still play a role. for example a baby may associate feeling warm and comfortable with the presence of a particular adult which may influence child choice of main attachment figure –> learning theory may still be useful in understanding the development if attachments

Question 28

limitation of learning theory as an explanation of attachment - counterpoint to some conditioning may be involved

Answer 28

-both classical and operant conditioning explanations see the baby playing a passive role in attachment development, simply responding to associations with comfort or reward. in fact research shows babies take a very active role in interactions that produce attachment (such as Feldman and Eidelman 2007) –> means that conditioning may be not an adequate explanation of any aspect of attachment

Question 29

evaluation of learning theory as an explanation of attachment - social learning theory

Answer 29

-Hay and Vespo 1988 suggest parents teach children to love them by demonstrating (modelling) attachment behaviours for example hugging. parents also reinforce loving behaviour by showing approval when babies display their own attachment behaviours such as giving attention or cuddles to their parents
-the social learning perspective has the further advantage that it is based around the 2-way interaction between baby and adult, so it fits better with research into the importance of reciprocity