Learning Theory - Explanations Flashcards
What are the two types of conditioning?
Classical conditioning.
Operant conditioning.
In the process of classic conditioning, what may the UCS of food also be replaced by?
Warmth, comfort etc.
In the process of classic conditioning, what may the UCR of pleasure also be replaced by?
Joy, happiness etc.
What is a primary reinforcer? Give an example.
Something that provides positive reinforcement because it serves to satisfy some basic drive.
E.g. food and drink.
What is a secondary reinforcer? Give an example.
Reinforcer that has no natural properties of reinforcement but through association with the primary reinforcer becomes a reinforcer.
E.g. a mother.
Outline the role of a primary reinforcer within the hunger drive.
A person will be ‘driven’ to seek food to satisfy hunger.
Eating food results in drive reduction and is positively reinforcing.
What is the main principle of operant conditioning?
Anything that is rewarded is likely to be repeated and so this behaviour is repeated.
How does a secondary reinforcer form?
The PCG provides the food that reduces the drive, and so becomes a secondary reinforcer - they become a reinforcer by association with a primary reinforcer.
From then on, the infant seeks to be with the person who has become a secondary reinforcer, because they are now a source of reward in themselves.
The infant is then attached.
Outline Dollard and Miller’s study from 1950.
(Supporting research)
Supports the idea that an infant’s primary attachment is a result of classical conditioning.
This is because in the first year of life, babies are fed around 2000 times, generally by their main carer.
This suggests that there is ample opportunity for the carer to become associated with the removal of the unpleasant feeling of hunger, a form of negative reinforcement.
Outline Schaffer and Emerson’s study from 1964.
(Challenging research)
Challenges the idea that an infant’s primary attachment is a result of classical conditioning.
This is because they found that in 39% of cases, the mother (usually the main caregiver) was not the baby’s main attachment figure.
This suggests that feeding is not the primary explanation of attachment.
Instead it could perhaps be attention or interaction, those explained by e.g. washing the infant.
Learning theory implies infants would form an attachment to only one adult (food giver); but over 80% of infants at the age of 18 months have formed an attachment to more than one adult.
Outline Fox’s study from 1977.
(Challenging research)
Challenges the idea that an infant’s primary attachment is a result of classical conditioning.
This is because they studied attachment bonds between mothers, infants and metapelets on Israeli kibbutzim (communal farms).
Metapelets are specifically trained, full-time carers of new-borns.
Generally, children were more attached to their mothers than metapelets.
This challenges learning theory as an explanation of attachment as someone else is doing all the feeding, but the mother is still the primary attachment.
Outline research completed on the Efe Tribe in the Congo.
(Challenging research)
Challenges the idea that an infant’s primary attachment is a result of classical conditioning.
This is because infants in the village are breast-fed by multiple women.
However, they still have a primary attachment to their mother.
This contradicts the ideas of ‘cupboard love’.
