Attachment

• What is the learning theory of attachment?


  It explains attachment through classical and operant conditioning.
• What is classical conditioning?


  It is a process of learning by associating two stimuli together to learn a response.
• How does classical conditioning relate to attachment?


  It explains how a caregiver becomes associated with the pleasure of food.
• What does UCS stand for in classical conditioning?


  Unconditioned Stimulus
• What does UCR stand for in classical conditioning?


  Unconditioned Response
• What does NS stand for in classical conditioning?


  Neutral Stimulus
• What does CS stand for in classical conditioning?


  Conditioned Stimulus
• What does CR stand for in classical conditioning?


  Conditioned Response
• What is the process of classical conditioning in attachment?


  Food (UCS) produces pleasure (UCR), and the caregiver (NS) becomes associated with food, leading to attachment.
• What is operant conditioning?


  It is a learning process through consequences, such as rewards or punishments.
• Who was the first psychologist to study operant conditioning?

  Skinner
• What is positive reinforcement?


  It is the addition of a pleasant stimulus to increase a behavior.
• What is negative reinforcement?


  It is the encouragement of behaviors by removing or avoiding a negative outcome.
• What is punishment in operant conditioning?


  It refers to any change that reduces the likelihood of an undesired behavior occurring again.
• What is positive punishment?


  It involves presenting an aversive stimulus after a behavior has occurred.
• What is negative punishment?


  It involves taking away a desirable stimulus after a behavior has occurred.
• How does operant conditioning relate to attachment?


  When a baby cries for food, the caregiver feeds them, reinforcing the crying behavior positively.
• What is the secondary drive hypothesis?


  It describes how primary drives become associated with secondary drives, such as emotional closeness.
• How does the caregiver learn attachment according to Dollard & Miller?


  Through negative reinforcement when the caregiver feels pleasure from the infant's lack of distress.
• What are the strengths of the learning theory of attachment?


  • Provides a plausible and scientifically reliable explanation.
  • Based on principles studied in controlled environments.
  • Suggests strong attachments can form through need provision.
• What did Schaffer & Emerson (1964) find about attachment?


  They found that many infants formed attachments with individuals other than the primary caregiver.
• What is the significance of the quality of interaction in attachment?


  Stronger attachments were formed with those who were sensitive and responsive to the infant's needs.
• How does Harlow's research challenge the learning theory?


  Harlow found that baby monkeys preferred a soft cloth mother over a wire mother that provided food.
• What is Bowlby's alternative theory of attachment?


  Bowlby proposed that infants have an innate readiness to form attachments during a critical period for survival.
• Why is Bowlby's theory considered more comprehensive?


  It explains attachment formation and its evolutionary significance, rather than reducing it to simple associations.
• What is the essay question related to learning theory as an explanation of attachment?


  Outline and evaluate learning theory as an explanation of attachment (16).
• How does the learning theory explain Melissa's attachment to Julie?


  Melissa associates food with Julie, leading to attachment through classical conditioning.
• What is the role of food in the learning theory of attachment?


  Food serves as the unconditioned stimulus that produces pleasure and forms associations with the caregiver.
• What happens after repeated associations between caregiver and food?


  The caregiver becomes a conditioned stimulus that elicits pleasure from the baby.
• How does crying behavior relate to attachment in infants?


  Crying is positively reinforced as it leads to food and attention from the caregiver.
• What is the emotional bond formed between caregiver and baby called?

  Attachment
• How does the caregiver feel rewarded in the attachment process?


  The caregiver feels rewarded when the baby stops crying after being fed.
• What does negative reinforcement do in the context of attachment?


  It encourages the caregiver to feed the baby to avoid the stress of hearing the baby cry.
• What is the outcome of the emotional bond between mother and child?


  It leads to attachment.