Explanations Of Attachment - Learning Theory

Question 1

What is the learning theory?

Answer 1

The name given to a group of explanations (classical and operant conditioning), which explain behaviour in terms of learning rather than any inborn tendencies or higher order thinking.

Question 2

What is a behaviourist?

Answer 2

They prefer to focus their explanations solely on behaviour - what people do rather than what may or may not be going on in their minds. They suggest that all behaviour (including attachment) is learned through classical or operant conditioning. The learning theory is put forward by behaviourists.

Question 3

What is classical conditioning?

Answer 3

Learning through an association. A neutral stimulus is consistently paired with an unconditioned stimulus so that it eventually takes on the proprieties of this stimulus and is able to produce a conditioned response.

Question 4

Who first investigated classical conditioning?

Answer 4

Ivan Pavlov

Question 5

How does classical conditioning begin?

Answer 5

With an innate stimulus-response. In the case of attachment this innate stimulus is food which is produces the innate (unlearned) response of pleasure. Food is an unconditioned stimulus and pleasure is an unconditioned response

Question 6

What does unconditioned mean?

Answer 6

Not learned

Question 7

What happens during classical conditioning?

Answer 7

During the infants early weeks and months certain things become associated with food because they are present at the time when the infant is fed. This might be the infants mother, the chair that she sits in to feed, or some sounds that might always be present. All of these things are called neutral stimulus.

Question 8

What happens after classical conditioning?

Answer 8

If any neutral stimulus is regularly and consistently associated with a UCS it takes on the properties of the UCS and will produce the same response. So the NS now becomes a learned or conditioned stimulus (CS) and produces a conditioned response (CR). In this case the person who feeds the infant moves from being an NS to being a CS. Just seeing this person gives the infant a feeling of pleasure (a CR).

Question 9

What did learning theorists called the newly formed stimulus-response?

Answer 9

Mother love

Question 10

What is operant conditioning?

Answer 10

Learning through reinforcement.

Question 11

Who first investigated operant conditioning?

Answer 11

B.F.Skinner

Question 12

What did John Dollard and Neal Miller do?

Answer 12

(1950), offered an explanation of attachment based on operant conditioning and drive reduction theory.

Question 13

What was Dollard’s and Miller’s explanation?

Answer 13

When an animal is uncomfortable this creates a drive to reduce that discomfort. In the case of a hungry there is a drive to reduce the accompanying discomfort. When the infant is fed, the drive is reduced and this produces a feeling of pleasure. This is rewarding (called positive reinforcement). The behaviour that led to being fed is more likely to be repeated in the future because it was rewarding. Food becomes a primary reinforcer because it supplies the reward - reinforces the behaviour that avoided discomfort. Through the process of classical conditioning the person who supplied the food is associated with avoiding discomfort and becomes a secondary reinforcer, and a source of reward. Attachment occurs because the child seeks the person who can supply the reward.

Question 14

What is a drive?

Answer 14

Something that motivates behaviour

Question 15

What are Skinner’s ideas?

Answer 15

That all behaviours produce consequences, some of which are positive (continue) and some are negative (stop) and all behaviour’s are reinforced. Infants learn that crying, smiling brings positive responses from adults (reinforcement). Adult learns that responding to cries etc.. begins relief from noise

Question 16

What is the social learning theory?

Answer 16

Its a further development of the learning theory by Albert Bandura. Dale Hay and Jo Vespo (1988) suggested that modelling could be used to explain attachment behaviours. They proposed that children observe their parents affectionate behaviour and imitate this. Parents would also deliberately instruct their children about how to behave in relationships and reward appropriate attachment behaviours such as giving kisses and hugs.

Question 17

What are the evaluative points?

Answer 17

Learning theory is based on research with animals Contact comfort is more important than food Learning theory has some explanatory power Drive reduction is largely ignored today An alternative explanation

Question 18

What is meant by learning theory is based on research with animals?

Answer 18

Its largely based on studies with non-human animals such as skinners research with pigeons. Behaviourists believe that humans are actually no different from other animals in terms of how they learn. Our behaviour patterns are constructed from the same basic building blocks of stimulus and response and therefore, they argue, it is legitimate to generalise from animals studies to human behaviour. Some aspects of human behaviour can be explained by conditioning but not all can, especially a complex behaviour like attachment. Non-behaviourists argue that attachment involves innate predispositions and mental activity that could be explained in terms of conditioning, but behaviourists may lack validity because they present an oversimplified version of human behaviour.

Question 19

What is meant by contact comfort is more important than food?

Answer 19

The main limitation is that it suggests food is the key element in the formation of attachment. There is strong evidence to show feeding has nothing to do with attachment. For example, Harlow (1959), showed that monkeys were most ‘attached’ to the wire mother that provided contact comfort, no food. Although Harlow’s study was with animals, it is supported by Schaffer and Emerson’s research.

Question 20

What is meant by the learning theory has some explanatory power?

Answer 20

It may not provide a complete explanation of attachment but it has some value. Infants do learn though association and reinforcement, but food may not be the main reinforcer. It may be that attention and responsiveness from a caregiver are important rewards that assist in the formation of attachment.Such reinforcers were not part of the learning theory account. It may also be that responsiveness is something that infants imitate and thus learn about how to conduct relationships.

Question 21

What is meant by drive reduction theory is largely ignored today?

Answer 21

Was very popular in the 1940s but is no longer used by psychologists because - It can only explain a limited number of behaviours - there are many things people do that have nothing to do with reducing discomfort, in fact there are some things that people do that increase discomfort (E.g - bungee jumping). Doesn’t adequately explain how secondary reinforcers work - they don’t directly reduce discomfort yet they are reinforcing. For example, money is a secondary reinforcer. In itself it doesn’t reduce comfort but it is nevertheless reinforcing.

Question 22

What is meant by an alternative explanation?

Answer 22

One of the main reasons the learning theory was rejected as an account of attachment is that a better theory appeared. Bowlby’s theory has many advantages over it - It can explain why attachments form, whereas the learning theory can only explain how they might form. It also offers no explanation of the advantages of attachment. Bowlby’s theory also offers a better explanation of the facts. For example, it can explain Schaffer and Emerson’s findings that infants are not always most strongly attached to the person who feeds them.