Explanations of attachment- learning theory

• Explain attachments in terms of operant conditioning

  • Drive is something that motivates behaviour
  • When child is uncomfortable creates motivation to reduce that drive
  • When child is fed it produces feeling of pleasure (negative reinforcement) as child is rewarded and will more likely to repeat the behaviour that got them the food.
  • Food is primary reinforcer
  • Through CC the person providing food is associated with avoiding discomfort and becomes secondary reinforcer. So attachment occurs as child seeks the person who supplies reward
• Explain attachment formation thought social learning theory

  • Modelling used to explain learning attachment
  • Children observe parents affectionate behaviour and imitate this
  • Parents also instruct kids on how to behave in relationships and award attachment behaviours
• evaluate learning theory

  • ☹️based on animal studies- behaviourists believe animals aren’t that different from humans but not all human behaviour can be explained through conditioning as they are complex
  • ☹️ attachment isn’t based on food- Harlow's study - monkeys more attached to mother providing contact comfort. supported by Schaffer and Emerson too
  • ☹️Drive reduction theory can only explain limited number of behaviours- people do things which have nothing to do with reducing discomfort like bungee jumping which actually increases discomfort. No longer used by psychologists
  • ☹️ alternative explanation- learning theory was rejected as explanation for attachment because Bowlby's theory is better- it explains WHY attachments form, whereas learning theory explains HOW they might form. Bowlby's theory explains that attachment increases survival, and explains S and E's research
• What does the learning theory in regards to attachment state?

  Attachment is based on food