Learning theory explanation of attachment

Question 1

description of learning theory

Answer 1

learning theorists John Dollard and Neal Miller 1950 proposed that caregiver-infant attachment can be explained by learning theory. Their approach is sometimes called ‘cupboard love’ approach because it emphasises the importance of the caregiver as a provider of food

Question 2

Classical conditioning

Answer 2

unconditioned stimulus (food) — unconditioned response (pleasure

neutral stimulus (mother)— no response

unconditioned+neutral stimuli— uncondtioned response

conditioned stimulus (mother)— conditioned response (pleasure)

Question 3

operant conditioning

Answer 3

involves learning to repeat behaviour, or not, depending on its consequences. If a behaviour produces a pleasent consequence, that behaviour is likely to be repeated again. - the behaviour has been reinforced.

• operant conditining can explain why babies cry for comfort - feedng.
• when feeding the baby the caregiver recieves negative reinforcment as the crying stops

Question 4

attachment as a secondary drive

Answer 4

as well as conditioning, learning theory draws on the concept of drive reductuion - hunger can be thought of as a primary drive- it is innate, biological motivator. We are motivated to eat in order to reduce the hunger drive.
— attachment is thus a secondary drive learned by an association between the caregiver and the satisfaction of a primary drive.

Question 5

evaluation- counter evidence from animal research

Answer 5

lorenz geese imprinted and formed an immediate attachment prior to feeding and maintained regardless of who fed them.
Harlows preferd soft surrogate in preference to a wire one that dispensed milk
-ATACHMENT DOES NOT DEVELOP AS A RESULT OF FEEDING

Question 6

evaluation counter evidence from human research

Answer 6

research from human infants also shows thhat feeding does not appear to be an important factor in humans. for example in schaffer and emersons study many of the babies developed a primary attachment to their biological mother even though other carers did most the feeding

Question 7

evaluation- learning theory ignores other factors associated with forming attachments

Answer 7

• in addition, studies have shown that the best quality attachments are with sensitve carers that pick up infant signals and respond appropriately
• it is very hard to reconcile these findings with the idea of cupboard love
• if attachment dependent purely as a result of feeding, there would be no point of complex interactions like reciporicity and interactional synchrony