Explanations Of Attachmrnt: Learning Theory A01&3 Flashcards
Dollar and miller (1950) learning theory of attachment
This is sometimes called the ‘cupboard love’ explanation because it emphasises the importance of food in attachment formation. Children learn to love whoever feeds them.
Role of classical conditioning
Classical conditioning involves learning through association. In attachment: UCS leads to UCR. This response is not learned so it is an unconditioned response.
Role of operant conditioning
Operant conditioning is learning through positive and negative reinforcements
Crying leads to a response from the caregiver as long as the caregiver provides the correct response, crying is reinforced because it produces a pleasurable consequence
Negative reinforcement
A negative reinforcement is escaping from something unpleasant
Drive reduction
Primary drive is an innate biological motivator e.g. hunger, we are motivated to eat to reduce the hunger drive
A secondary drive is learned by an association between the caregiver and the satisfaction of a primary drive e.g. attachment
Limitation of the learning theory of attachment
P-human research shows that feeding is not an important factor
E-Schaffer and Emerson showed that for many babies a primary attachment was not to the person who fed them
E-shows that feeding is not the key element to attachment so there’s no unconditioned stimulus or primary drive involved
L-suggests that other factors are more important than food in the formation of attachment such as the level of responsiveness
Strength of learning theory
P-some elements of conditioning could still be involved
E-for example associations between the primary caregiver and provision of comfort and social interaction could be part of what builds attachment
E-main problem with the learning theory is the idea that feeding provides the unconditioned stimulus, reinforcement or primary drive
L-however many aspects of human development are affected by conditioning so it seems plausible that it could still play a role in attachment
Limitation of learning theory
P-animal studies provide evidence against food as the basis of attachment
E-Lorenzs imprinted geese imprinted maintained attachments regardless of who fed them
E-in the study,attachment did not develop as a result of feeding
L-the same must be true for humans. After all,learning theorists believe that non-human animals and humans are equivalent
Limitation of the learning theory
P-Theres a newer learning explanation based on social learning theory
E-hay and vespo suggest that parents teach children to love them by modelling attachment behaviours
E-in this version,babies have learned attachment behaviours as a result of their interactions,which fits with research on the importance of interactional synchrony
L-by rewarding them with approval when they display their own attachment behaviours
