CLASSICAL AND OPERANT CONDITIONING CONTENT AND EVALUATION

What is cupboard love?

we become attached to those who feed us

Process of classical conditioning

Baby forms an association with their mother (neutral stimulus) and the feeling of pleasure (unconditioned response) and after prolonged association, the mother stimulates pleasure without the presence of food

Process of operant conditioning

Mother (secondary reinforcer) rewards infant with food (primary reinforcer) so associates mother with reward and comfort and will repeat any action that brings her close

How do animal studies on attachment challenge learning theory?

Lorenz’s geese imprinted on him regardless of food and Harlow’s study showed food wasn’t a factor when it came to attachment in monkeys

How does Schaffer and Emerson’s study challenge learning theory?

Babies tended to form their main attachment to their mother regardless of if they were the one who usually fed them or not