Learning Theory Of Attachment

Question 1

Who proposed the learning theory of attachment

Answer 1

Dollard and Miller

Question 2

What did Dollard and Miller propose

Answer 2

Emphasis of the importance of the attachment figure as a provider of food.
((Children learn to love whoever feeds them))

Question 3

Classical conditioning in the learning theory

Answer 3

caregiver = NS
food = UCS
pleasure = UCR

over time caregiver becomes associated to the food
NS ———-> CS
CS= CR
CR= Love - an attachment is formed

Question 4

Operant conditioning in the learning theory of attachment

Answer 4

Explains why babies cry for comfort.
Crying leads to a response from the caregiver for example being fed,
as long as the caregiver provides the correct response the crying is reinforced the baby then directs crying for comfort towards the caregiver who responds with comforting social suppressor behaviour.

The reinforcement is two ways at the same time the baby is reinforced for crying. The caregiver receives negative reinforcement because the crying stops. Mutual reinforcement between baby and caregiver strengthens the attachment.

Question 5

Attachment as a secondary drive

Answer 5

Hunger can be thought of as a primary drive (an innate biological motivator) we are motivated to eat to reduce the hunger drive.
Sears = As caregivers provide food, the primary drive of hunger becomes generalised to them. Attachment is therefore a secondary drive learned through an association between the caregiver and the satisfaction of a primary drive.

Question 6

A03 contradictory evidence from animal studies.

Answer 6

In Lorenz’s experiment, the geese imprinted on the first moving object they saw regardless of whether this object was associated with food. in Harlows research with monkeys there is no support for importance of food as when given a choice the monkeys displayed attachment towards a soft mother in preference to a wire one which provided milk.
this demonstrates the requirement of other factors in attachment, such as contact comfort

Question 7

A03 contradictory evidence from human studies

Answer 7

Schaffer and Emerson:
Babies tended to form attachments to their mother, regardless of whether she was the one who usually fed them .
Isabella etal:
High levels of interactional synchrony predicted quality of attachment .

None of these factors are related to feeding suggesting the importance of other factors in human attachment

Question 8

A03 strength : elements of conditioning may be involved

Answer 8

Although it seems unlikely that association with food plays central role in attachment there is still possibility for conditioning to take place.
Babies may associate feeling warm and comfortable with an adult which then may determine choice of attachment figures

COUNTERPOINT:
Classical and operant conditioning see babies has taken a passive role in attachment such as simply responding to associations with comfort or reward however research has shown that babies take an active role in interactions in attachment