Learning theory - AO3

Question 1

What are two limitations of learning theory?

Answer 1

• P: Limitation = counter evidence form animals studies
• E: Lorenz (1935): geese imprinted on first moving thing they saw (nothing to do with food)
• E: Harlow (1958): monkeys preferred contact comfort over food when forming attachment
• L: So… factors other than food are important in attachment
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• P: Limitation = counter evidence from human studies
• E: Schaffer and Emerson (1964): primary attachment figure usually mother even if she didn’t feed baby (60 working class glasgow)
• E: Isabella et al. (1989): interactional synchrony predicted quality of attachment
• L: So food is not a main factor in formation of human attachment

Question 2

What is a strength of learning theory? (PECS)

Answer 2

• P: Strength = association may still be important
• E: Food may be not but baby may still associate comfort and safety with caregiver
• C: Learning theory considers babies to be passive in attachment; Tronick et al (1978) still face experiment coutners this
• S: So learning theory may not be full explanation of attachment

Question 3

What is an evaluation extra (limitation/PECS) of learning theory?

Answer 3

• P: Limitation = better explanations
• E: Social learning theory uses the same principles but also considers babies to be active in attachment
• C: However, SLT still cannot explain how similar attachment is across human cultures and different species
• S: This is why SLT has never become the dominent theory of attachment