Learning theories of attachment
- Created by: maddieecarr
- Created on: 04-04-22 14:23
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- Learning theory of attachment
- Operant
- Positive reinforcement
- Through attachment to a caregiver the infant is rewarded with food which they enjoy
- Negative reinforcement
- The caregiver is the bringer of food which is a reliever of natural distress (hunger). Therefore the caregiver is a negative reinforcementas they remove the feelings of hunger
- Positive reinforcement
- Classical
- UCS- food
- CR - pleasure
- UCR - pleasure
- CS - caregiver
- NS - caregiver
- The food (UCS) makes the baby feel happy (UCR). The food is always combined with the caregiver (NS). Over time the baby associates the caregiver with food and the subsequent pleasure which follows. This conditions the baby to feel the same pleasure (CR) when they see the mother (now the CS)
- Evaluations of learning theory
- Weaknesses
- Reductionism; fails to understand other factors as to why a baby behaves in this way and forms attachments
- Inadequate explanation as it fails to explain why attachments form to those who do not feed e.g grandparent, sibling
- Strengths
- Weaknesses
- Operant
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