Explanations: Learning Theory

• Limitation - Counter evidence from animal studies:

  Lorenz and Harlow showed that feeding is not the key to attachment
• Limitation - Counter evidence from humans

  • Primary attachment figure not always the person who does the feeding - Schaffer and Emerson
  • Quality of attachment related to interactional synchrony not feeding - Isabella et al
• Strength - Some conditioning may be involved:

  Conditioning (association with comfort) may influence choice of primary attachment figure

  • Counterpoint - Babies are more active in attachment than conditioning explanations suggest - Feldman and Eidelman
• Strength - Social learning theory:

  Hay and Vespo suggested that parents teach children to love them by demonstrating attachment behaviours

  Parents also reinforce loving behaviour by showing approval when baby displays their own attachment behaviours