Learning Theory to attachment
- Created by: emmarhianne
- Created on: 26-03-17 14:57
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- Learning theory to attachment
- Food is the unconditioned stimulus which produces pleasure (unconditioned response)
- The main caregiver is the neutral stimulus who through conditioning is paired with the unconditioned stimulus of food.
- This produces the unconditioned response of pleasure, eventually through conditioning and learned associations the conditioned stimulus (caregiver) produces the conditioned response of pleasure in the baby: forms the basis for attachment.
- The main caregiver is the neutral stimulus who through conditioning is paired with the unconditioned stimulus of food.
- It can be argued that the learning theory does provide an adequate explanation of how attachment forms as we do learn throuh classical conditioning, it's just unfortunate that the theory emphasises too much on food and neglects attention and responsiveness when forming attachments.
- Schaffer and Emerson found that 39% of babies formed their first attachment to someone other than the person that fed them (grandparents) this shows it is who is most sensitive to a child's needs that is more of an attachment figure; therefore food isn't an important factor like the theory suggests.
- Criticised for basing soley on food. Harlow's monkeys shows that monkeys were more attached to comfort rather than food; this criticises the theory, showing food isn't the key factor, and other factors contribute.
- The learning theory has been rejected due to a better account of attachment from Bowlby, who gives an account on why attachments form rather than how, such as the suggestion that it is innate and helps to give us an adaptive advantage.
- Food is the unconditioned stimulus which produces pleasure (unconditioned response)
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