learning theories

Question 1

classical conditioning

Answer 1

we learn to form attachment based on associations, which is done by pairing up a neutral stimulus with an unconditional stimulus to produce a conditioned response

Question 2

operant conditioning

Answer 2

we learn to form attachment based on rewards and reinforcement, Drive theory, the primary drive is wanting food and the secondary drive is reduction of crying which leads to an attachment with the mother and food

Question 3

first step into classical condition with mum and baby

Answer 3

NO ATTACHMENT, process begins with the food as an unconditional stimulus (unlearnt stimulus), this doesn’t have to be learnt as we don’t learn the pleasure to because the hunger pains are automatically taken away

Question 4

second step

Answer 4

once the baby has associated the mother (the neutral stimulus) who means nothing with the unconditional stimulus of food, the baby then begins to associate mum with the unconditional response of pleasure

Question 5

third step

Answer 5

once conditioning is complete and attachment is formed, mum has now become a conditional stimulus, the baby has learnt to attach to mum because she now brings the CR of pleasure which is now present even when food is not

Question 6

weakness

Answer 6

SLT states children learn love from role models eg hugs,

Question 7

weakness

Answer 7

Harlow doesn’t support it as he stated contract comfort is more important than food

Shaver and emerson said it’s not the mother but the person that spends the most time with them

Lorenz disagrees because he stated it does not matter who feeds them but what the first large moving object the imprint onto- attachment doesn’t form from who feeds us (according to him)

Question 8

strength

Answer 8

this theory does provide a good explanation of how attachments form, so we do learn through association, for example, we associate certain situations with danger when we develop phobias/ irrational fears (eg, if a child is being bullied at school, they may associate the neutral stimulus of school with the fear, so school becoming the conditioned stimulus in which the child is now afraid of)

Question 9

weakness

Answer 9

reductionism, (environmental) reduced complex attachment to just its associations or rewards