explanations of attachment: learning theory

Question 1

What did dollard and miller say in 1950?

Answer 1

‘cupbaord love’
-kids love whoever feeds them
-its socially sensative
-makes people sad
-baby only likes parent for food

Question 2

what does classical conditioning mean?

Answer 2

-learn by association
-2 stimuli repeatedly paired

Question 3

what does operant conditioning mean?

Answer 3

-behavior learnt through consequences
-reinforcement
-more frequent

Question 4

DIAGRAM FOR CLASSICAL CONDITIONING IN FOLDER PLS CHECK

Question 5

what does operant conditioning mean?

Answer 5

-involves learning to repeat behavior
-pleasant consequence= likely to be repeated
-baby crys to be fed
-mother comforting behavior is NEGATIVELY REINFORCED as crying stops when she responds
-attachment strengthens
-POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT= baby gets food after crying

Question 6

difference between reinforcement and punishment?

Answer 6

-reinforcement is = increase in behavior
-punishment - decrease likelihood of behavior(give unpleasant consequence)

Question 7

why is attachment a secondary drive?

Answer 7

-when the baby is hungary they enter uncomfortable drive state
-hunger is primary drive, innate biological motivator
-being fed= reduces hunger = comfortable
(drive and reduction)
-food becomes primary reinforcer
-prsn who supplies the food becomes the secondary reinforcer
-attachment is secondary drive learned by association

Question 8

criticism of attachment as secondary drive?

Answer 8

(what did harlows research suggest)
-ignores ‘contact comfort’ e.g harlows monkeys
-got food from wire mum
-seeked comfort from cloth mum
so comfort is more IMPORTANT then feeding
(does it break down behaviors)
-too reductionist - reduces complex behavior to simple ideas
e.g stimulus, response, reinforcement
-too simplified to explain attachment
(babys role)
-classical and operant see baby as playing a passive role in attachment, and responding w association to comfort or reward
-actually babies take active role in interactions that produce an attachment
-so reinforcement isnt an adequate explanation for attachment

Question 9

strength of reinforcement theory?

Answer 9

-conditioning may play a role in attachment
-e.g baby may associate feeling of warmth and comfort with particular adult
-infulence babys choice on their main attachment figure
-useful in understanding development of attachment

Question 10

additional explanation of reinforcment theory e.g SLT?

Answer 10

-hay and vespo - parents model attachment e.g hugging
-parents teach child to love them
-parents reinforce loving behavior by sharing approval when babies display own attachment behaviour e.g cuddling parent
(two way interaction supports reciprocity)