Learning Theory

Question 1

Define learning theory

Answer 1

Infants learn to attach to whoever feeds them

Question 2

What are the 2 theories of learning theory ?

Answer 2

Classical conditioning

Operant conditioning

Question 3

Define classical conditioning

Answer 3

Learning to attach through stimulus , response , associations

Question 4

Define operant conditioning

Answer 4

Learning to attach through rewards , reinforcements and punishments

Question 5

What is provided as an unconditioned stimulus ?

Answer 5

Milk

Question 6

What does the unconditioned stimulus provide ?

Answer 6

An unconditioned response in infants such as pleasure

Question 7

What kind of response is unconditioned ?

Answer 7

Automatic

Question 8

What is the nuetral stimulus ?

Answer 8

The feeder

Question 9

What happens through the repetition of feeding ?

Answer 9

Infants learn to associate feeder with food and pleasure

Question 10

What does the feeder become ?

Answer 10

Conditioned stimulus , producing the conditioned response of pleasure

Question 11

What is according to learning theorist ?

Answer 11

This is the basis of attachment love as the child then speak to be near the feeder

Question 12

What is operant condition used to explain ?

Answer 12

Why infants cry for comfort

Question 13

What is a positive reinforcement ?

Answer 13

When the infant receives reward of food and the crying behaviour is reinforced

Question 14

What is a negative reinforcement?

Answer 14

When the caregiver feeds the infant the crying stops , as negative stimulus of crying and feeding Behavior has been reinforced

Question 15

What does this mutual reinforcement do ?

Answer 15

Strengths an attachment

Question 16

Learning theory Ao3 weakenss
Environmental reductionism

Answer 16

Criticised for environmental reductionism

Theory reduces complex human behaviour of attachment down to simplistic basic units of association

Neglects holistic approach , like persons culture and social context

Eg collectivist cultures families of ten work together to look after children

Children’s may form multiple attachments

Learning theory may lack validity as it doesn’t not allow us to understand behaviour in context

Question 17

Ao3 limitation of learning theory by Harlow

Answer 17

Moneys spent more time with surrogate mother who provided comfort rather than food

Same must be true for humans

Theorists believed non humans and human are equilivent

Thus contradicts learning theory assumption that we learn to attach to person who feeds us via associations , thus limiting learning theory attachment

Question 18

Ao3 contradict LT by Schaffer and Emerson

Answer 18

Found infant tend to form attatcments to their mother

Regardless if she usually fed them

Attachment was more due to responding to infants signals and interaction

Fields: into time of father , shown best quality attachment are with caregivers that are sensitive and respond beyond just feeding the infant

Therefore evidencing feeding dones not appear to be the most important factor as LT suggests