Learning theory Flashcards
What is the cupboard love approach?
Infants attach to the person who provides them with food
What is the main assumption of learning theory?
We learn from the environment and our experiences and we are all born as blank slates
Which 2 researchers proposed the cupboard love approach?
John Dollard and Neal Miller
Through which two processes do we learn to develop attachments according to learning theory?
Classical and operant conditioning
How do infants develop attachment through classical conditioning?
Infants learn to associate the unconditioned stimulus of food with the caregiver
Name the unconditioned and neutral stimulus when babies learn to attach through classical conditioning
UCS= food NS= mother
What is drive reduction theory?
When an animal is uncomfortable and this creates a drive to reduce that discomfort.
How do infants learn to form attachments through operant conditioning?
When child is hungry they experience discomfort and have a drive to reduce this They will cry- causes mother to feed them and drive is reduced= feelings of pleasure Acts as negative reinforcement- infant has escaped something unpleasant Behaviour that led to being fed= more likely to be repeatedà brings caregiver closer and leads to dev. Of attachment
What is the primary and secondary reinforcer in operant conditioning?
Food= primary reinforcer (supplies reward) Caregiver= secondary reinforcer as they bring the food (they are associated with the food)
What is the strength of the learning theory in terms of attachment?
The strength of learning theory is it can explain some aspects of attachment. Infants do learn through 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. E.G, Schaffer and Emerson found results consistent with this idea. They found that infants were more attached to the caregiver who showed higher levels of sensitive responsiveness and they will have learnt to do this through association.
Counter: Although this evidence also contradicts learning theory as babies attached to those displaying high levels of sensitive responsiveness, not those who feed them. This challenges the validity of the theory.
What is the limitation of the learning theory in terms of attachment?
Contradictory animal research- Learning theory suggests that food is the main element in the development of attachment. However, there is strong evidence in young animals to show that feeding has nothing to do with attachment. Lorenz’s geese imprinted before they were fed and maintained these attachments regardless of who fed them. Harlow’s monkeys attached to a soft surrogate which provided contact comfort in preference to a wire one that dispensed milk. Counter- Must generalise findings from animals on to humans with caution- humans have a different genetic make-up and are more complex. Just because animals showed attachment behaviour in this way does not mean humans will.
Ignores nature- The learning theory focuses on nurture and ignores evolutionary factors. Bowlby’s monotropic explanation is much more comprehensive and has more research support, and suggests that attachment behaviours are innate not learned.
Environmental reductionism- Breaks complex behaviour down into simple stimulus and response chains, and focuses on the role of food. Attachment is complex and a range of factors influence attachment, such as interactional synchrony, reciprocity etc. Therefore, this approach to explaining attachment is too simplistic. Counter- Reductionist theories do tend to be scientific and learning theory is founded in a well stabilised theoryà enhances credibility
