Learning Theory Flashcards

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1
Q

What is learning theory?

A

Behaviourists argue that all behaviour (including attachment) is learnt through environmental experiences rather than being an innate mechanism

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2
Q

What are the 2 types of conditioning involved in learning?

A

Classical
Operant

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3
Q

How does classical conditioning work in relation to attachment?

A

Before conditioning: food is the UCS and pleasure is the UCR
During conditioning: items present when feeding occurs (e.g mother) become an NS, which elicits no response
After conditioning: consistent pairing of NS with UCS means that the mother now becomes CS and pleasure becomes CR

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4
Q

How does operant conditioning work in relation to attachment?

A
  • Hunger is a drive that motivates an infant to reduce the discomfort experienced when hungry
  • Food reduces this drive and so pleasure is experienced (positive reinforcement)
  • Food becomes the primary reinforcer as it supplies the reward
  • The person who supplied the food is associated with avoiding discomfort (secondary reinforcer)
  • Attachment occurs because the child seeks the person who can supply the reward
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5
Q

Supporting research based on animals - AO3

A
  • Learning theory is based on research with non human animals (e.g pavlovs dogs or skinners rats)
  • Behaviourists argue that humans are no different from animals in terms of learning
  • However, others argue that attachments are too complex to extrapolate to animals
  • This matters because behaviourist explanations may present an oversimplified version of human attachment
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6
Q

Lack of support evidence for humans - AO3

A

-Schaffer and Emerson (1964) found that babies tended to form their main attachment with their mother, regardless of whether she usually supplied food
- Furthermore, Isabella et al. (1989) found that high levels of interactional synchrony predicted quality of attachment
- This suggests that food is not the main factor is formation of human attachment, as the learning theory suggests

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7
Q

Elements of conditioning could be involved in some aspects of attachment - AO3

A
  • It seems unlikely that association with food plays a central role in attachment, but conditioning may still play a role
  • For example, a baby may associate feeling comfortable with the presence of a particular person
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