Evaluation on learning theory

+:

P - elements of conditioning could be involved in some aspects of attachment

Ev - for example, a baby may associate feeling warm and comfortable with the presence of a particular adult, and this may influence the baby’s choice of their main attachment figure

Ex - means that learning theory may still be useful in understanding the development of attachments

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P - learning theory explanations for attachment is lack of support from studies conducted on animals

Ev - for example, Lorenz gees imprinted on the first moving object they saw regardless of whether this object was associated with food

Ex - this shows that factors other than association with food are important in formation of attachments

P - lack of support from studies of human babies

Ev - Schaffer and Emerson found that babies tend to form their main attachment to their mother regardless whether she was the one who usually fed them

Ex - suggests that food is not the main factor in the formation of human attachments