Learning Theory Of Attachment

Question 1

What is the learning theory all about

Answer 1

• we are all both with blank slates; tabula rasa
• at birth we all have the capacity to learn
• focuses on the approach of observable behaviour
• all behaviour is learning through the environment and through experience

Question 2

What is classical conditioning

Answer 2

Leaning through association
-a neutral stimulus is constantly paired with an unconditioned stimulus and it eventually takes on the properties of this stimulus and be able to produce a conditioned response

Question 3

In classical conditioning what is:
Stimulus
Response
Conditioned

Answer 3

• an event which causes a response
• a reaction made when the stimulus is detected
• learnt behaviour

Question 4

Although Pavlov used dogs for his classical conditioning outline the study using the mother and infant

Answer 4

• the process begins with an innate stimulus response
• the innate stimulus is food which produces the innate (unlearned) response of pleasure
• food is an unconditioned stimulus
• pleasure is an unconditioned response
• in the early weeks of an infant certain items become associated with the food e.g the mother which is an example of a neutral stimuli
• NS is consistently associated with the UCS which then the NS takes the properties of the UCS and produce the same response
• NS becomes learned or conditioned stimulus CS and produces a CR conditioned response

Question 5

What is operant conditioning and what is it also known as

Answer 5

Learning through reinforcement

-cupboard love theory

Question 6

What is the law of effect in operant conditioning

Answer 6

Behaviour which has rewarding consequences is more likely to be repeated
Behaviour which has negative consequences is less likely to be repeated

Question 7

Outline skinners boxes (1948)

Answer 7

• skinny places hungry rats in a cage for them to explore their surroundings
• when the eat accidentally pressed the lever is released a pellet of food
• if is quickly learned to repeat the behaviour to gain the food rewarded

Question 8

What is punishment

Answer 8

Behaviour which results in negation Consequences and is punished is likes likely to be repeated in the future e.g detentions

Question 9

What is reinforcement

Answer 9

Behaviour which results in positive consequences (rewards) becomes reinforced is most likely to be repeated in the future

Question 10

Outline Doland and Miller (1950)

Answer 10

• when infants are hungry they feel discomfort and have a drive to release this feeling
• a drive if something that motivates behaviour
• being fed reduces discomfort and produces feeling of pleasure because the food is rewarding and acts a primary reinforcer
• the person who supplies the food becomes associated with the reward and is known as the secondary reinforcer and source of reward
• attachment is the result of the person supplying rewards which the baby seeks for

Question 11

What is social learning theory

Answer 11

Learning through observing others and imitations

Question 12

Outline bandura et al experiment

Answer 12

• a child was left alone in a room with an adult full of toys including a big Bobo doll
• the adult began to beat up the Bobo doll aggressively while the child was watching
• the child began to copy what the adult did and beat up the doll
• they were aged 3-5
• they used a hammer to beat the doll
• every child started to copy once they watched the recording
• 2 years after bandura did his study again with children watching the violence but this time on tv and he found that he got same results of children becoming violent

Question 13

What did Hay and Vespo (1988) argue

Answer 13

The argued that modelling could be used to explain attachment

They argued that children observe their parents affectionate behaviour and imitate this behaviour

Parents would instruct their children on how to behave in relationships and give them rewards of hugs and kisses

Question 14

State evaluation points for the learning theory

Answer 14

• attachment is not based on food
• drive reduction theory is outdated
• it provides an adequate explanation of attachment within animals
• shows that infant do learn from association and reinforcement
• Harlow study showed monkeys did not become attached because of food
• studies based on non human animals cannot be generalise

Question 15

What is the learning theory

Answer 15

The name given to a group explanations (social,operant and classical) which explain behaviour terms of learning rather than any inborn tendencies or high order thinking