AO3 - Learning Theory

• Learning theories do not consider internal processes or the emotional nature of attachments.
• Learning theories ignore factors such as reciprocity, sensitive caregiving, and interactional synchrony in attachment formation.
• Social learning theory may not fully explain the intensity of emotion in attachment.
• Animal studies like Lorenz contradict the learning theory of attachment.
• Evolutionary studies, which suggest attachment is innate, contradict the learning theory.
• The learning theory is useful in helping parents understand how to read their babies behaviour more easily.
• Both classical and operant conditioning suggest babies take a passive role in forming attachments, but this may not be the case.
• Feldman & Eidelman (2007) suggest babies take a very active role in the interactions to produce attachments.
• Hay & Vespo (1988) suggest that parents teach children to love them by demonstrating (modelling) attachment behaviours.
• Durkin (1995) does not believe the SLT can explain the intensity of emotion that the attachment produces.
• The learning theory offers an alternative explanation for attachment, when compared to the biological/ evolutionary theories or any psychodynamic theories.
• Hay & Vespo (1988) suggest that as well as modelling parents use direct instruction and social facilitation to build attachments.