learning theory of attachment Flashcards
who proposed the learning theory of attachment? what is it?
behaviourists
attachment is learned either through classical or operant conditioning
what is classical conditioning?
the thing that gives pleasure (e.g. food) becomes the unconditioned stimulus – the caregiver becomes a conditioned stimulus by association - dollard and miller
what is operant conditioning?
any behaviour that creates positive reinforcement is repeated. (e.g. crying gets you food, therefore babies cry)- dollard and miller
process of classical conditioning in attachment
before conditioning the baby feels happy (UCR) when given food (UCS). however each time he is fed the mother (NS) is there too. baby quickly associates the mother with the pleasure of being fed. before long, the mother (CS) leads to a happy baby - stimulating a feeling of attachment.
process of operant conditioning in attachment
hunger produces discomfort, creating a drive to reduce this sensation. food reduces the discomfort and induces pleasure. pleasure is rewarding and food becomes a primary reinforcer.
the person feeding the child becomes associated with pleasure and reward (a secondary reinforcer).
attachment occurs because the child seeks the reward.
comfort when ill or upset can also be a primary reinforcer so the carer providing it becomes the secondary reinforcer.
evaluation - weakness - animal studies
Lorenz and Harlow’s research weakens learning theory. Lorenz’s goslings imprinted on him before he fed them, and Harlow’s monkeys preferred a cloth mother (which didn’t have a milk bottle) over a wire mother (which did). This suggests food is not the primary reason for attachment.
evaluation - weakness - schaffer & emerson
Schaffer and Emerson’s research showed that babies did not necessarily become attached to whoever fed them the most, rather, who spent time sensitively responding to them. This weakens the assumption of learning theory.
