Learning theory explanation for attachment

How many theories are associated with learning theory?

Three

What are all three theories associated with learning theory?

• Classical conditioning

• Operant conditioning

• Secondary drive theory

According to classical conditioning, what are the UCS, UCR & NS in relation to attachment theory?

• UCS: food

• UCR: pleasure

• NS: caregiver

According to this theory, how does the attachment figure become a source of pleasure for the infant?

• Repeated pairings cause the infant to associate the caregiver with food

• Therefore, making the caregiver a conditioned stimulus

What types of reinforcement are involved in the formation of attachments based on operant conditioning?

Positive & negative

How does a baby receive positive reinforcement from a caregiver?

Receiving a desired response after crying (e.g. food)

What name is given to the type of behaviours the caregiver gives the baby to prevent it from crying?

Social suppressor

How does negative reinforcement occur between a caregiver & infant?

The baby stops crying when the caregiver provides comfort

According to drive theory, what is the primary drive defined as?

An innate biological motivator

What is an example of a primary drive?

Hunger

What kind of drive is attachment?

Secondary

According to drive theory, how does an attachment form?

• As caregivers provide food, the primary drive of hunger becomes generalised to them

• Attachment is therefore a secondary drive learned by an association between the caregiver & the satisfaction of a primary drive

Outline and evaluate the learning theory of attachment (16 marks)

Write your AO1 paragraph

• There are three theories within the learning theory of attachment: classical conditioning, operant conditioning & drive theory.

• Firstly, classical conditioning proposes that food is an unconditioned stimulus (UCS) that provides us with pleasure - an unconditioned response (UCR), whilst the caregiver is a neutral stimulus (NS). After repeated pairings, we learn to associate an attachment figure (NS) with food (UCS). Eventually, the attachment figure becomes a conditioned stimulus (CS) who provides the conditioned response of pleasure (e.g. love).

• Secondly, operant conditioning proposes that babies cry for comfort in order to receive a response from the caregiver. Providing the caregiver provides the correct response (e.g. food or changing nappy), the baby receives positive reinforcement. The reinforcement is a two-way process as the caregiver also receives negative reinforcement in that the baby stops crying once comfort is provided. This strengthens the attachment.

• Finally, drive theory proposes that hunger is a primary drive & an innate, biological motivator. We are motivated to eat in order to reduce the hunger drive. As caregivers provide food, the primary drive of hunger becomes generalised to them. Attachment is therefore a secondary drive learned by an association between the caregiver & the satisfaction of a primary drive.

Outline and evaluate the learning theory of attachment (16 marks)

Write your strength AO3 PEEL (behaviourist principles)

• Point: One strength of the learning theory of attachment is that it draws upon the well-established behaviourist principles.

• Evidence: For example, classical conditioning explains how infants associate caregivers with feelings of comfort. Whereas, operant conditioning explains how infants are positively reinforced & caregivers being negatively reinforced.

• Explain: These explanations have high face validity as it makes sense that the person who provides comfort would form an attachment with the infant.

• Link: Overall, the learning theory of attachment is seen as a strength, as it is grounded in scientific behaviourist principles, making its explanation of attachment formation more valid.

Outline and evaluate the learning theory of attachment (16 marks)

Write your limitation AO3 PEEL (sensitive responsiveness)

• Point: One limitation of the learning theory of attachment is that alterative research contradicts the idea that food is vital for attachment formation.

• Evidence: For example, Schaffer & Emerson found that many babies formed attachments to caregivers who displayed high levels of sensitive responsiveness.

• Explain: This suggests that attention & emotional care may be more important than food in developing attachments.

• Link: Therefore, this directly opposes the assumptions made by classical & operant conditioning in the context of attachment.

Outline and evaluate the learning theory of attachment (16 marks)

Write your limitation AO3 PEEL (Harlow)

• Point: One limitation of the learning theory of attachment is that it is contradicted by animal studies.

• Evidence: For example, Harlow’s study found that infant rhesus monkeys preferred a cloth mother providing comfort over a wire mother providing food, spending more time with the cloth mother (18 hours) & seeking it when scared by a mechanical robot.

• Explain: This suggests that attachment is more closely related to contact comfort & emotional security than feeding or reinforcement through food.

• Link: Overall, this finding undermines the core assumption of the learning theory of attachment that feeding is the primary basis for attachment.