AO1 - Learning Theory

• According to the learning theory, behaviour is learned through associations and patterns of reinforcement and punishment.
• Classical conditioning suggests that attachment is formed through the association of food and the caregiver.
• Operant conditioning suggests that attachment is formed through the reduction of drives and the reinforcement of the caregiver's behaviour.
• Social learning theory emphasises the role of imitation and vicarious reinforcement in attachment formation.
• Social learning theory suggests that attachments develop through modelling, direct instruction, and social facilitation.
• Dollard & Miller (1950) proposed that caregiver-infant attachment can be explained by the learning theory.
• The learning theory is sometimes called 'cupboard love' approach.
• The learning theory emphasises the importance of the attachment figure as a provider of food.
• Classical conditioning is learning through association.
• Operant conditioning is learning through positive and negative reinforcement.
• The social learning theory is learning through observation, imitation and modelling. It also suggests vicarious reinforcement can increase learning.
• Classical conditioning is based on stimulus response associations.
• Classical conditioning suggests food is an unconditioned stimulus creating a satisfaction of being fed (conditioned response).
• In classical conditioning a caregiver acts as a neutral stimulus but eventually becomes a conditioned stimulus.
• Operant conditioning involves learning from consequences, often through trial and error.
• If a behaviour is reinforced, it is strengthened and more likely to occur again.
• Reinforcement increases the likelihood of a behaviour occurring again.
• Punishment decreased the likelihood of a behaviour occurring again.
• Attention from babies crying is a form of reinforcement. If a baby cries they get more attention from their caregiver.
• Positive reinforcement is gaining something pleasant in order for a desirable behaviour to continue.
• Negative reinforcement is removing something unpleasant in order for a desired behaviour to continue.
• The learning theory also draws on the drive reduction theory.
• The drive reduction theory is based on the idea that the primary motivation behind all human behaviour is to reduce 'drives.
• Hunger is a primary drive (innate mechanism), so we eat to reduce the hunger drive.
• Sears et al (1957) suggest that caregivers provide food, so the primary drive of hunger becomes generalised to them.
• Sears et al (1957) argues that attachment is a secondary drive learned by association between the caregiver and the satisfaction of a primary drive, like hunger.