Learning Theory Flashcards
(21 cards)
2 Theories of attachment
- Learning Theory
- Bowlby’s Monotropic Theory
Learning theory
- all behaviour is learned, not innate
- learn attachment because of food
2 processes of learning for attachment in Learning Theory
Classical Conditioning + Operant Conditioning
what is classical conditioning? + example
learning through ASSOCIATION
eg. associate mother with milk
term: stimulus
an event that causes a response
term: response
action made because stimulus detected
term: innate
instinctive/ inborn
term: conditioned
learned
term: unconditioned
not learned, occurs naturally
term: neutral
nothing associated with it
classical conditioning applied to attachments
Being fed (UCS) gives us pleasure (UCR)
Caregiver starts as neutral stimulus
Caregiver provides food over time= becomes associated with food
Neutral stimulus-> conditioned stimulus
Conditioning done= caregiver produces conditioned response of pleasure
pleasure response= love, caregiver=attachment figure
what is Operant Conditioning?
learning through CONSEQUENCES of behaviour
3 types of Operant Conditioning
- negative reinforcement
- positive reinforcement
- punishment
operant conditioning: negative reinforcement
if behaviour REMOVES something UNPLEASANT, likely to be repeated again
operant conditioning: positive reinforcement
if behaviour PRODUCES PLEASANT CONSEQUENCE, likely to be repeated again
operant conditioning: Punishment
if behaviour produces UNPLEASANT CONSEQUENCE, less likely to be repeated again
operant conditioning applied to attachment
when babies hungry= uncomfortable + cry
- caregiver provides correct response= crying reinforced
- Baby directs crying for comfort
- reinforcement 2-way process
- baby reinforced for crying=caregiver receives negative reinforcement
- mutual reinforcement strengthens attachment
how is the theory reductionist?
doesnt consider more complex emotions in classical conditioning
learning theory strength
- some conditioning may be involved in formation of attachment
- highly likely conditioning contributes, still useful understanding development of attachments
- credible that association between primary caregiver and comfort and social interaction is part of what builds the attachment
what do animal studies suggest?
- young animals dont attach/imprint on those who feed them
- Lorenz’s geese imprinted before fed and maintained attachments regardless who fed them
- attachment not develop bc of feeding. must be true for humans. learning theory believe non-human and human equivalent
what does other research suggest?
- feeding not an important factor
- Schaffer + Emerson
- babies developed primary attachment to biological mothers despite other carers do most of feeding
- questions reliability
