explanations of attachment: learning theory ao3

Question 1

Limitation of learning theory of attachment - counter evidence from animal studies

Answer 1

P: Alimitation of the cupboard love theory is counter evidence from animal studies
E; for example lorens geese imprinted before getting fed and hallows rhesus monkeys sped more time with cloth mother as opposed to wire mother regardless of who was feeding them.
E; This weakens the claim that the provider of food is the one who the infant forms an attachment with and who the infant sees to be the caregiver. So therefore food isn’t the most important thing where forming attachments is concerned but rather comfort and security
L; so therefore these animal studies refute the learning theirues claims that food and satisficsruin of primary drive is not extremely significant in forming attachments but comfort.

Question 2

Limitation of learning theory of attachment - hunan studies

Answer 2

P; one limitation is Schaffer and Emerson’s research in 1964
E; they found that babies tended to form their main attachment to the mother regardless of whether she was the one to provide food which is seen as paramount to forming attachments in the cupboard love theory’s
Furthermore another study Isabella eat al 1989 found that high levels of interactional synchrony predicted the quality of attachment not the food given
E; none of these studies point to food being a main factor in human attachments weakening this theory.
L; therefore human studies provide evidence refuting the cupboard love theory and its conclusion that food is a main factor in coming attachments

Question 3

Strength of learning theory of attachment - importance of conditioning

Answer 3

P; although it seems unlikely that food plays an essential role in attachment it’s possible that conditioning still plays a role
E; for example,a baby may associate feeling warm and comfortable in the presence of a particular adult which could then influence the babies choice of their main attachment figure
E; this means a the learning theory may still be useful in understanding in the development of attachment

Question 4

Counterpoint for support for the importance of conditioning

Answer 4

However broth oc and cc see the baby as passive in attachment development
However there is plenty of research showing babies playing an active role in producing their attachments with caregivers
Eg Feldman and eidelman 2007
Meltzoff and Moore
Isabelle 1989