Explanations: Learning theory

• What does learning theory focus on?

  The rewards provided by caregivers
• What is “cupboard love”

  Children love whoever feeds them, food is very important in attachment formation
• Who proposed the learning theory of attachment?

  Dollard and Miller
• How is classical conditioning involved in learning theory?

  1)Food (UCS) -> Pleasure (UCR)

  2)Caregiver (NS) -> No response

  3)Food (UCS) + Caregiver (NS) -> Pleasure (UCR)

  4)Caregiver (CS) -> Pleasure (CR)
• How is operant conditioning involved in learning theory?

  It explains why babies cry for comfort:

  • Crying leads to a response from the caregiver e.g. feeding
  • As long as the caregiver provides the correct response, crying is reinforced
  • Baby then directs crying for comfort towards caregiver who responds with comforting social suppressor behaviour
  • At the same time as the baby is reinforced for crying the caregiver receives negative reinforcement because crying stops
• Attachment as a secondary drive:

  Attachment becomes a secondary drive through association with hunger