Learning Theory Of Attachment Flashcards
1
Q
What is Learning Theory?
A
- A set of theories from the behaviour approach which emphasise the role of learning in regards to behaviour.
2
Q
What is Classical Conditioning?
A
- Involves learning to associate two stimuli together so that an individual responds to one in the same way they respond to the other.
3
Q
What is a Neutral Stimulus?
A
- A Stimulus that does not initially produce a specific response or reaction when it is presented.
4
Q
What is Unconditioned Stimulus?
A
- A stimulus that is naturally occurring and automatically triggers a response without any prior learning.
5
Q
What is an Unconditioned Response?
A
- A natural occurring response to a stimulus that doe snot require prior learning to it.
6
Q
What is a Controlled Stimulus?
A
- A Stimulus that produces a specific, learned, response when it is presented.
7
Q
What is a Controlled Response?
A
- A learned reaction to a previously Neutral Stimulus that has become associated with an Unconditioned Stimulus.
8
Q
What is Operant Conditioning?
A
- A type of learning in which a new voluntary behaviour is associated with a consequence.
- Reinforcement makes the behaviour more likely to occur whilst punishment makes the behaviour less likely to occur.
9
Q
What is Primary Drive?
A
- An innate biological motivator.
10
Q
What is Secondary Drive?
A
- Motivators learned through conditioning or association with a primary drive, such as attachment and social acceptance.
11
Q
What are the two types of reinforcement?
A
- Positive
- Negative
12
Q
When does Positive Reinforcement occur and what is an example of this?
A
- Occurs when an infant will do a behaviour again because they have been rewarded for that behaviour.
- crying is positively reinforced behaviour as they get a response from a caregiver when they cry.
13
Q
When does Negative Reinforcement occur and what is an example of this?
A
- Occurs when an adult will do a behaviour to stop an unpleasant consequence
- Hearing a baby cry is unpleasant. A caregiver will do whatever it needs to, to stop the bay from crying.
- NEGATIVE REINFORCEMNT IS NOT PUNISHMENT.
14
Q
What is an example of Primary Drive?
A
- Hunger can be thought of as a primary drive, it is an innate, biological response.
15
Q
Give two evaluative points of Learning Theory.
A
- It is Reductionist. It ties to explain the complex bonds of attachment through simple process of Stimulus and Response in relation to food. It does not consider factors such as cognitive processes and emotional nature of attachments.
- Animal Research has provided a counter argument against the Learning Theory of attachment. Harlow’s study demonstrates that monkey preferred the soft touch mother to the one that offered food, which suggest that attachment does not develop because of feeding.
