Explanations of Attachment: Learning Theory
Covers, classical/operant conditioning and evaluations using the AQA Psychology textbook.
- Created by: CharlyLouiseHuggins
- Created on: 30-03-19 11:34
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- Explanations of Attachment: Learning Theory
- Classical Conditioning
- Associating two stimuli together so we respond in the same way to both.
- Food is the Unconditioned Stimulus.
- Being fed gives pleasure, an unconditioned response.
- Caregiver is the neutral stimulus, producing neutral response.
- Caregiver gives baby food over time, baby associates this with food.
- Neutral response turns into conditioned response.
- Operant Conditioning
- Learning to repeat behaviour (or not).
- If behaviour produces good consequence, likely to be repeated (reinforced).
- Behaviour with negative consequence not likely to be repeated.
- Explains why babies cry for comfort.
- Crying provides response from caregiver, if correct response, crying reinforced.
- Crying for comfort towards caregiver who responds with comforting 'social suppressor' behaviour.
- Baby is reinforced for crying, caregiver receives negative reinforcement as crying stops.
- Attachment as a secondary drive
- Learning theory draws on the concept of drive reduction.
- Hunger is primary drive- innate biological motivator.
- Eat to reduce hunger drive.
- Learning theory draws on the concept of drive reduction.
- Eat to reduce hunger drive.
- Sears et al- 1957- caregivers provide food (primary) becomes generalised to them. Attachment is secondary drive learned through association.
- Evaluations
- Counter-research from animal research.
- Lorenz's geese imprinted on him before being fed.
- Harlow's monkeys preferred 'cloth mother' over 'wire mother' who dispersed milk.
- Counter-research from human research.
- Schaffer & Emerson study- infants formed a primary attachment to biological mother, even when other carers did most of the feeding.
- Ignores other factors associated with forming attachments.
- Ignores reciprocity and good levels of interactional synchrony (Isabella et al (1989).
- Studies show that best attachments are with sensitive carers who pick up infant signal s and responf to them.
- Hard to justify these findings with the idea of cupboard love.
- Studies show that best attachments are with sensitive carers who pick up infant signal s and responf to them.
- Ignores reciprocity and good levels of interactional synchrony (Isabella et al (1989).
- A newer learning theory explanation.
- Hay & Vespo (1988)
- New theory based on SLT. Parents teach infants to love them by modelling attachment behaviour, rewarding them with approval.
- Hay & Vespo (1988)
- Some elements of conditioning could still be involved.
- Many aspects of attachment are influenced by conditioning.
- Classical conditioning between primary caregiver & provision of comfort/social interaction is the part of what builds the attachment.
- Many aspects of attachment are influenced by conditioning.
- Counter-research from animal research.
- Classical Conditioning
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