learning theory Flashcards
Who proposed learning theory as an explanation?
Dollard and Miller
Why is learning theory called cupboard love?
Emphasises importance of caregiver as food provider
How does classical conditioning explain attachment?
Food - unconditioned stimulus
Being fed = pleasure - unconditioned response
Caregiver - neutral stimulus
Caregiver becomes associated with food - conditioned stimulus
Pleasure - conditioned response
How does operant conditioning explain why babies cry for comfort?
Crying = caregiver response eg feeding
Crying is reinforced
Caregiver responds with comforting social suppressor behaviour
How is reinforcement a two way process?
Caregiver receives negative reinforcement
Crying stops
Interplay of mutual reinforcement strengthens attachment
Explain drive reduction in terms of attachment
Hunger = primary drive
Motivated to eat to reduce hunger drive
Sears - primary drive of hunger becomes generalised to caregiver
Attachment is a secondary drive by association
Evaluation - counter evidence from animal research
Animals don’t attach to feeders
Lorenz and Harlow
Attachment does not equal feeding
Learning theorists believe humans and animals are same
Evaluation - counter evidence from human research
Schaffer and Emerson - primary attachment to mother despite feeding from other carers
Feeding is not key element
Evaluation - ignores other factors
Reciprocity and interactional synchrony
Sensitive carers who pick up signals
If feeding = attachment these complex interactions would have no purpose
Evaluation - some elements of conditioning could be involved
Association between caregiver and comfort could build attachment
Don’t abandon whole theory
Evaluation - newer learning theory explanation
Hay and Vespo - based on SLT
SLT based on modelling and imitation
Parents teach children to love by modelling attachment eg hugging family
More credible
