Learning theory - explanations for attachment

Question 1

Who proposed learning theory as an explanation for attachment, and what was it called?

Answer 1

Dollard and Miller (1950) - cupboard love theory as it emphasises the importance of the attachment figure as a provider of food

Question 2

Classical conditioning

Answer 2

• Learning to associate two stimuli together so we begin to respond to one in the same way as we already respond to the other
• Learning through association
  E.g. Pavlov’s dogs

Question 3

Operant conditioning

Answer 3

• Involves learning from the consequences of behaviour
• If behaviour produces a pleasant consequences, then the behaviour is reinforced
• If the behaviour produces an unpleasant consequence (punishment) then it is less likely to be repeated
• This can explain why babies cry for comfort - they are picked up and soothed

Question 4

Attachment as a secondary drive

Answer 4

-Learning theory looks at the concept of drive reduction
- Hunger can be thought of as a primary drive - it’s an innate, biological motivator. We are all motivated to eat in order to reduce the hunger drive
-Robert Sears et al (1957) suggested that, as caregivers give food, the primary drive of hunger becomes generalised to them.
- Attachment is therefore the secondary drive learned by association between the caregiver and the satisfaction of a primary drive

Question 5

Counter-evidence for learning theory

Answer 5

Animal studies do not support cupboard love theory
- Lorenz’s geese imprinted on the first moving object they saw regardless of whether it was associated with food
- Harlow’s monkey research didn’t support the importance of food - when given the choice the monkey displayed attachment to the soft cloth ‘mother’
- This shows that factors other than association with food are important to the formation of attachment

Question 6

Counter-evidence for learning theory 2

Answer 6

• Lack of support from human studies
• Schaffer and Emerson (1964) found that babies tended to form their main attachment to their mother regardless of who was feeding them
• Isabella et al (1989) found that high levels of interactional synchrony predicted the quality of attachment - not related to feeding
  This again suggests that food is not the main factor in the formation of human attachment

Question 7

Strength of learning theory

Answer 7

• One strength is that some elements of conditioning could be involved as it’s unlikely that food plays a central role in attachment
• The association between feeling warm/comfortable in the presence of a particular adult may influence the baby’s choice of their main attachment figure

Question 8

Counterpoint to strength

Answer 8

• Both classical and operant conditioning explanations see the baby playing a passive role in attachment development as is only responding to associations of comfort or reward. -However, research shows that babies take a very active role in the interactions that produce attachments
  This means that conditioning may not be an adequate explanation of any aspect of attachment

Question 9

Social learning theory

Answer 9

• Hay and Vespo (1988) suggest that parents teach children to love them by demonstrating (modelling) attachment behaviours, e.g. hugging
• Parents also reinforce loving behaviour by showing approval when babies display their own attachment behaviours
  -This social learning theory perspective has a further advantage that is based around two-way interaction between baby and adult, so it fits better with research into the importance of reciprocity