Lesson 6: Learning theory of Attachment Flashcards
What does learning theory claim about behaviour?
all behaviour is LEARNED
What are the two types of conditioning people can learn behaviour through?
1)Classical conditioning
2) Operant conditioning
What is classical conditioning?
Learning by association
What is an infant born with
Certain reflex responses
In classical conditioning in INFANTS, what type of stimulus does FOOD act as
UNCONDITIONED stimulus
In classical conditioning in INFANTS, what is does the PLEASURE reflex serve as
UNCONDITIONED response
In classical conditioning in INFANTS, what type of stimulus does the “person providing the food” act as
NEUTRAL stimulus
What is the equation for classical conditioning
neutral stimulus (person) + unconditioned stimulus (food) = unconditioned response (pleasure)
OVERTIME
neutral stimulus->conditioned stimulus= conditioned response (pleasure)
According to learning theory how are attachment developed + strengthened
attachment DEVELOPS via classical conditioning
attachment is STRENGTHENED through operant conditioning
According to classical conditioning, why do infants feel pleasure in their caregiver’s presence?
overtime they associate them with the pleasure derived from FOOD
How does operant conditioning strengthen attachment?
the infant receives POSITIVE reinforcement for crying when their hungry as the CAREGIVER feeds them.
What type of reinforcement does the caregiver experience?
NEGATIVE reinforcement (when behaviour removes something unpleasant)
for feeding the baby when they CRY as feeding makes the crying STOP
State a POSITIVE evaluation of Learning theory
(Hint: plausible+ scientific)
Learning theory is PLAUSIBLE and SCIENTIFIC as it is founded in established theory
It is LIKELY that ASSOCIATION between provision of needs + the person providing those needs can lead to STRONG attachments
State a NEGATIVE evaluation of learning theory
(Hint: Harlow + comfort>food)
-Harlow (1959) separated infant RHESUS monkeys from their mothers and put them in cages.
Milk was either provided by a WIRE mesh ‘surrogate mother’ or one made of comfortable SOFT cloth.
The monkeys clung onto the SOFT cloth mother,especially when scared by an AVERSIVE stimulus-> even if it did not provide MILK
this suggests that comfort > food in determining WHOM a baby will attach to
State a NEGATIVE evaluation of Learning theory
(Hint: food NOT necessary for attachment)
SCHAFFER and EMERSON found that food is NOT necessary for attachment to form.
-They discovered that babies are often attached to people who PLAY with them RATHER than feed them
-in 39% of cases even though the mother fed them the baby=attached to another
