Learning Theory Of Attachment

Question 1

Who proposed the learning theory of attachment

Answer 1

Dollars and Miller (1950)
Proposed attachment can be explained through learning theory

Question 2

What did learning theory focus on

Answer 2

The baby wanting to fulfill its needs

Question 3

What’s is the key reinforcement for attachment in infants

Answer 3

Food

Question 4

What is classical conditioning

Answer 4

Learning through association

Question 5

What is the unconditioned stimulus in classical conditioning in attachment

Answer 5

Food

Question 6

What is the unconditioned response in classical conditioning of attachment

Answer 6

Pleasure

Question 7

What is the mother in classical conditioning in attachment

Answer 7

Neutral stimulus

Question 8

What does the mother produce for the baby in classical conditioning

Answer 8

Pleasure (conditioned response)
Because the mother becomes the conditioned stimulus

Question 9

What is the entire process of classical conditioning of attachment in infants

Answer 9

Food (unconditioned stimulus) = pleasure (unconditioned response)

Mother (neutral stimulus)+food(unconditioned stimulus) = pleasure (unconditioned response)

Mother (conditioned stimulus) = pleasure (conditioned response)

Question 10

Explain how food influences the attachment between mother and baby (classical conditioning)

Answer 10

Getting food naturally gives the baby pleasure. When the mother is around, the desire for food is fulfilled by the mother. So, an association is made between the mother and food — meaning pleasure for the baby (attachment)

Question 11

What does operant conditioning suggest we learn through

Answer 11

Learning through positive or negative reinforcement or punishment.

Question 12

What does positive reinforcement mean

Answer 12

To give something to make behavior more likely

Question 13

What does negative reinforcement mean

Answer 13

To take something away to make behavior more likely

Question 14

How does operant conditioning work in attachment

Answer 14

Babies feel discomfort when hungry. If they cry, the mother will come and feed them, so the discomfort is removed (negative reinforcement).

The baby then seeks attachment from the mother to reduce the discomfort. This then will cause discomfort and separation anxiety.

Question 15

Strength of learning theory of attachment

Answer 15

P: this is supported by Harlows research into monkeys and attachment
E: for example harlows monkeys shows that infant monkeys seek comfort from in a distressful situation
E: they would run to the comfort monkey rather than the food monkey
L: this shows that operant conditioning as the cloth monkey (comfort) the monkey is distressed which is negative reinforcement

Question 16

What is limitation of the learning theory of attachment

Answer 16

P: Lorenz’s research refutes this theory
E: as suggested by Lorenz attachment is an innate ability
E: for example attachment is formed from birth
L: therefore is not learned from the environment