Explanations of attachment: Learning theory Flashcards
What was the popular explanation for attachment during the 1950s?
One popular explanation for attachment in the 1950s was learning theory. This is the view that attachments develop through classical and operant conditioning.
The learning theory acts as an explanation of attachment. What is the learning theory?
The learning theory is a set of theories from the behaviourist approach to psychology. This approach emphasises the role of learning in the acquisition of behaviour.
Under the learning theory, what are the two explanations for learning of behaviour?
Classical conditioning and operant conditioning
Which two theorists proposed that caregiver-infant attachment can be explained by learning theory?
John Dollard and Neal Miller (1950)
Dollard and Miller’s approach can sometimes be called a ‘cupboard love’ approach. Explain why.
This is because their approach emphasises the importance of the caregiver as a provider of food.
What is classical conditioning?
Classical conditioning involves learning to associate two stimuli together so that we begin to respond to one in the same way as we already respond to the other.
How can classical conditioning be applied to attachment?
In the case of attachment, food serves as an unconditioned stimulus. Being fed gives us pleasure. This is a response that we don’t have to learn so it is an unconditioned response.
How can classical conditioning help to establish an attachment between an infant and their caregiver?
A caregiver starts as a neutral stimulus (a thing that produces a neutral
response)
When the same person provides food over time they become associated with ‘food’.
When the baby sees this person there is an immediate expectation of food. The neutral stimulus (the caregiver) has therefore become a conditioned stimulus.
Once conditioning has taken place the sight of the caregiver produces a conditioned response of pleasure. To a learning theorist, this is love.
What is operant conditioning?
Operant conditioning involves learning to repeat behaviour, or not, depending on its consequences. If a behaviour produces a pleasant consequence, that behaviour is likely to be repeated again. The behaviour has been reinforced. If a behaviour produces an unpleasant consequence it is less likely to be repeated.
Operant conditioning can be used to explain why babies cry for comfort. Explain how.
Crying leads to a response from the caregiver (e.g. 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.
This reinforcement is a two-way process. At the same time as the baby is reinforced for crying, the caregiver receives negative reinforcement because the crying stops. This interplay of mutual reinforcement strengthens attachment.
What is meant by negative reinforcement?
Negative reinforcement refers to escaping from something unpleasant.
As well as conditioning, learning theory draws on the concept of drive reduction. Explain what is meant by drive reduction.
Hunger can be thought of as a primary drive because it is an innate, biological motivator. For example, we are motivated to eat in order to reduce the hunger drive. Sears et al. suggested that, as caregivers provide food, the primary drive of hunger becomes generalised to them. Attachment is this a secondary drive learned by an association between the caregiver and the satisfaction of a primary drive.
Why is hunger a ‘primary drive’?
Hunger is a primary drive because it is an innate, biological motivator.
Is attachment a primary or a secondary drive?
Attachment is a secondary drive which is learned by an association between the caregiver and the satisfaction of a primary drive (e.g. hunger).
