Learning Theory of Attachment

Question 1

what does the learning theory of attachment suggest

Answer 1

attachments develop through classical and operant conditioning

Question 2

what is classical conditioning

Answer 2

learning to associate two stimuli together

Question 3

explain how a baby could become attached to a caregiver in terms of classical conditioning

food

Answer 3

• caregiver starts as a neutral stimulus that produces no response
• food serves as an unconditional stimulus
• pleasure serves as an unconditioned response
• the response of pleasure becomes associated with the caregiver when the caregiver feeds the baby

Question 4

explain the study that supports that attachments are formed through operant conditioning

Answer 4

dollard and miller

• in the first year babies are fed 2000 times
• this creates an opportunity for the carer to become associated with the removal of an unpeasant feeling of hunger
• a form of negative reinforcement

Question 5

explain the drive reduction theory

Answer 5

• hunger is a primary drive
• robert et al suggested that as caregivers procide food the primary drive of hunger is generalised to them
• attachment is therefore a secondary drive