Learning theory of attachment Flashcards
What are the two components of the learning theory of attachment?
Classical conditioning and operant conditioning
Who proposed the learning theory of attachment?
Dollard and miller
What do Dollard and Miller say the basis for the learning of attachment is?
The provision of food
Infants will form an attachment to whoever feeds them according to Dollard and Miller. This is also known as the ….. theory
Cupboard love
Describe before classical conditioning in terms of babies
UCS (food) -> UCR (pleasure at food)
Describe during classical conditioning in terms of babies
NS (caregiver) + UCS (food) -> UCR (pleasure at food being given)
Describe after classical conditioning in terms of babies
CS (caregiver) -> CR (pleasure at caregiver)
What is positive reinforcement in terms of babies?
Crying -> caregiver response
What is negative reinforcement in terms of babies?
Caregiver response -> stops the baby crying
What is drive reduction?
Having a biological ‘drive’ to reduce any feelings of discomfort. Reducing discomfort produces a feeling of pleasure which is rewarding (positive reinforcement)
What may a hungry infants drive be?
To reduce hunger, a primary drive
What did sears et al (1957) suggest?
As caregivers provide food, the primary drive of hunger becomes generalised to them. Attachment is thus a secondary drive learned by an association between the caregiver and the satisfaction of a primary drive.
Step 1 of operant conditioning:
When a baby is feeling ….. eg. Hunger this creates a ….. to reduce the discomfort so they will start…..
Discomfort, drive, crying
Step 2 of operant conditioning:
When the ….. responds and feeds the baby this reduces the discomfort and produces a feeling of ….. (reward) which acts as …. …..
Caregiver, pleasure, positive reinforcement
Step 3 of operant conditioning:
The food becomes a …. reinforcer because it supplies the reward (feeling pleasure). By removing discomfort, it reinforces the ….. that led to its arrival.
Primary, behaviour
Step 4 of operant conditioning:
By providing the food the caregiver becomes the ….. reinforcer - and so through ….. via classical conditioning, the caregivers presence alone brings a feeling of pleasure
Secondary, association
Step 5 of operant conditioning:
The baby now feels pleasure (reward) when the caregiver is …. and has learned to repeat any behaviours which bring the caregiver close in order to supply the reward. …. has now been formed.
Present, attachment
Evaluate the learning theory of attachment: animal research
Counter evidence from animal research
Range of animal studies have shown that young animals do not necessarily attach to those who feed them
Lorenz’s geese imprinted before they were fed and maintained this attachment regardless of who fed them
It is clear that attachments do not develop as a result of feeding - learning theorists believe that non human animals and humans are equivalent therefore it must be the same
Evaluate the learning theory: human research
Counter evidence from human research
Research with human infants shows that feeding does not appear to be an important factor in humans
Eg. In Schaffer and Emerson’s study many of the babies developed a primary attachment to their biological mother even though other carers did most of the feeding
This is a problem for the learning theory as they show that feeding is not the key element to attachment
Evaluate the learning theory: newer explanation
Hey and Vespo (1988) proposed a newer explanation for infant - caregiver attachment based on social learning theory
Parents teach children to love them by modelling attachment behaviour
