learning theory evaluation Flashcards
(p) one limitation of leaning theory is counter evidence from animal studies
(e)
● lorenz’s geese imprinted on the first moving object they saw
● harlow’s monkeys attached to cloth mother in preference to wire mother that dispensed milk
● in both of these studies, imprinting / attachment did not develop as a result of feeding
(c)
● shows that other factors than feeding are important in attachment formation
● at least in animals
(p) a range of human studies have also shown feeding is not the most important factor in human attachments
(e)
● for example, schaffer and emerson found that for many babies, their main attachment was not about the person who fed them
● it was also about responding to their general needs
● also, isabella et al found that interactional synchrony (unrelated to feeding) predicted attachment quality
(c)
● therefore, further suggests that other factors are more important in attachment formation than feeding in humans as well as animals
(p) one strength is that some elements of conditioning could still be involved
(e)
● it seems unlikely that association with food is central to attachment
● however, conditioning may still play a role in attachment
● for example, a baby’s choice of primary attachment figure may be determined by the fact that a caregiver becomes associated with warmth and comfort
(c)
● means conditioning could still be important in choice of attachment figures
● though not process of attachment figures
(p) to improve on this theory, researcher have proposed a newer explanation for infant-caregiver based on social learning
(e)
● hay and vespo suggests that parents teach children to love them by modelling attachment behaviour e.g. hugging and kissing
● also, if they see older siblings rewarded for these behaviours, this could vicariously reinforce them to do the same
● strengthening the attachment
(c)
● means that SLT can provide better explanation for attachment than classical / operant conditioning
● including explaining the active role taken by children in attachment development
