Explantions Of Attachment: Learning Theory

Question 1

Learning theory - classical conditioning stages

Answer 1

• US = food
• UR = pleasure
• NS -> CS = mother
• CR = pleasure

Question 2

Classical conditioning of attachment

Answer 2

• the stimulus of food naturally produces a response of pleasure
• the person providing the food becomes associated with pleasure and become the conditioned stimulus (usually primary caregiver)
• food giver becomes a source of pleasure, irrespective of whether or not food is supplied

Question 3

Operant conditiong of attachment

Answer 3

• positive reinforcement - when the baby cries it get food, crying is reinforced
• negative reinforcement - when the child is fed the unpleasant sensation of hunger stops

Question 4

Drive reduction theory

Answer 4

• food is the primary drive
• attachment is the secondary drive (primary caregiver)

Question 5

Criticism - animal studies do not provide support (w/ counterargument)

Answer 5

• Harlow’s research findings contradict the learning explanation of attachment
• suggest that the theory is oversimplified and ignores other factors e.g comfort
• however Harlow’s finding can not be easily generated to humans as monkey may process information differently