2. Learing theory of attachment

What is the Learning theory?

A theory that is used to emphasise the importance of food in the formation of attachment, essentially saying that children will learn to love whoever feeds them (Cupboard Love)

Learning theory of attachment works (classical conditioning)

UCS(food)—→ UCR(feeling happy)

NS(mom) + UCS(food)—→ UCR(feeling happy)

CS(mom)—→ CR (feeling happy)

Attachment as a secondary drive

Hunger- primary drive (biological), as we are automatically motivated to eat in order to reduce discomfort of hunger.

Attachment- secondary drive (learned), due to the associations we form between our caregiver and satisfaction of reducing hunger.

Learning theory of attachment works (operant conditioning)

For the baby:

• crying → gets food/comfort
  👉 positive reinforcement → crying increases

  For the caregiver:

• baby stops crying → relief
  👉 negative reinforcement → caregiving increases

Evaluations for the Learning theory of attachment

Feeding may not be the main factor in forming attachment

Ev: Researcher found that many developed a primary attachment to their biological mother even tho other carers did most of the feeding. Ex: The theory suggests that attachment develops through conditioning, as the caregiver provides food, knows as “cupboard love” explanation. However, the research shows that babies still formed a primary attachment to their mother even when another caregiver did most of the feeding. So attachment is more likely to based on emotional responsiveness and comfort, rather than than food alone. L: Low internal validity, as can’t be fully explained.

Attachment appears to be related to interaction rather than feeding

Ev: Research found that the quality of attachment was positively correlated to the amount of caregiver infant interaction. Ev: Research found that stronger attachments were linked to higher levels of caregiver- infant interaction, such as responsiveness and emotional communication. So attachment is formed through social interactions, rather than simply conditioning with food. L: Low internal validity, as suggests that attachment is based on emotional interaction rather than conditioning.

Comfort is more important than food in forming attachment

Ev: Harlow found that baby monkeys used the soft mum as their base, returning to her for comfort when they were frightened and only visiting the wire mother to feed (spent most of the time with cloth mom). Ex: Harlow showed that that baby monkey preferred the soft cloth mother, even when the wire mother provided milk. This suggests that comfort and emotional security are more important than feeding when forming attachment. L: Low internal validity, as it does not correctly explain the cause of attachment (appears to be based on comfort rather than food).