Learning theory

Question 1

Classical Conditioning

Answer 1

A response produced naturally by stimulus becomes associated with another stimulus not normally associated with that particular response.
Attachments are learned by the food (the unconditioned stimulus) producing a natural response of pleasure (unconditioned response) being paired with a caregiver (conditional stimulus). As these parents persist, the infant learns to associate caregiver with pleasure even in the absence of food.

Question 2

Pavlov’s Dogs

Answer 2

BEFORE CONDITIONING
Food (unconditioned stimulus) which gives an unconditioned response of salivation.
Bell (neutral stimulus) which is then responded by no conditioned response.
DURING CONDITIONING
The neutral stimulus and the unconditioned stimulus which gives an Unconditioned response.
AFTER CONDITIONING
The Bell now is conditioned meaning the dog now has a conditioned response of Salivation.

Question 3

Operant conditioning

Answer 3

Involves learning through the consequences of behavior.
Attachments happen because the caregiver has become associated with the reduction of hunger (negative reinforcement) and the caregiver becomes the source of reinforcement (or reward) themselves.

Question 4

Positive Reinforcement

Answer 4

Presenting the subject with something that it likes. e.g., Skinner rewarded his rats with food pellets.

Question 5

Negative Reinforcement

Answer 5

Reward – in the sense of removing or avoiding some aversive (painful) stimulus. E.g., Skinner’s rats learned to press the lever in order to switch off the electric current in the cage.

Question 6

Punishment

Answer 6

Imposing an aversive or painful stimulus. e.g., Skinner’s rats were given electric shocks.

Question 7

Primary Reinforcers

Answer 7

These are stimuli which are naturally reinforcing because they directly satisfy a need. E.g., food, water.

Question 8

Lack of support from animal studies

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Answer 8

Lorenz’s geese imprinted on 1st moving object saw regardless whether this object was associated with food.
Harlow’s research with monkeys, no support for importance of food.
Harlow’s monkeys display attachment behaviour towards soft mother even though wire gave milk.
Shows factors other than association with food are important in the formation of attachments

Question 9

Conditioning may be involved

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Answer 9

Strength- elements of conditioning could be involved in some aspects of attachment.
Unlikely that association with food plays a central in attachment, but conditioning may still play a role.
Baby may associate feeling warm and comfortable with the presence of a particular adult- influence baby’s choice of main attachment figure.
Means learning theory be useful understanding development of attachments.