Explanations of Attachment

• What is the main premise of the Learning Theory of Attachment?

  Attachment is learned, not innate
• What does the Learning Theory of Attachment suggest about who feeds the baby?

  Attachment depends on who feeds the baby
• Who proposed the concept of 'cupboard love' in attachment theory?

  Dollard & Miller
• What does 'cupboard love' imply about children's attachment to caregivers?

  Children attach due to food provision
• In classical conditioning, what is the unconditioned stimulus for an infant?

  Food
• What is the unconditioned response when an infant receives food?

  Pleasure
• What role does the primary caregiver play in classical conditioning of attachment?

  They provide the food
• What happens to the primary caregiver after several feedings?

  They become the conditioned stimulus
• What is the conditioned response associated with the primary caregiver?

  Pleasure
• How does attachment begin according to the classical conditioning model?

  The infant wants the caregiver around
• What is positively reinforced in operant conditioning of attachment?

  Attention from the primary caregiver
• What behavior do infants learn to perform to receive attention?

  Cry, laugh, giggle
• What is the effect of negative reinforcement on the primary caregiver?

  They are rewarded when the infant stops crying
• What is a primary drive?

  An innate biological motivator
• What is a secondary drive?

  A stimulus that reinforces behavior
• In the context of attachment, what is the primary reinforcer?

  Food
• What is the secondary drive in attachment theory?

  The primary caregiver
• When does attachment begin according to the learning theory?

  When the infant seeks the primary caregiver
• What does the evaluation suggest about the role of conditioning in attachment?

  Conditioning may play a role, but not central
• What might a baby associate with a particular adult according to the evaluation?

  Feeling warm and comfortable
• What does the evaluation imply about the learning theory's usefulness?

  It may help understand attachment development
• How do classical and operant conditioning view the baby's role in attachment?

  As relatively passive in development
• What does research show about babies' roles in attachment interactions?

  Babies take a very active role
• What does the counter-evidence from human studies suggest about attachment?

  Food is not the main factor
• What did Schaffer and Emerson find about attachment formation?

  It relates to sensitivity and responsiveness
• What did Lorenz's geese demonstrate about imprinting?

  Imprinting occurs regardless of food association
• What did Harlow's monkeys prefer in attachment studies?

  The cloth 'mother' over the wire one
• What do Harlow's monkeys' preferences indicate about attachment?

  Factors other than food are important
• What are the key concepts of the Learning Theory of Attachment?

  • Attachment is learned, not innate
  • Attachment depends on who feeds the baby
  • 'Cupboard love' explains attachment through food
  • Classical and operant conditioning play roles
• What are the criticisms of the Learning Theory of Attachment?

  • Conditioning may not be central to attachment
  • Babies take an active role in attachment
  • Evidence shows food is not the main factor
  • Studies on animals show non-food factors are important
• What is a strength for the ‘Cupboard Love’ theory?

  Some Conditioning May Be Involved

  • It seems unlikely that association with food plays a central role in attachment, but conditioning may still play a role
  • For example, a baby may associate feeling warm and comfortable with the presence of a particular adult and this may influence the baby’s choice of their main attachment figure
  • This means that the learning theory may still be useful in understanding the development of attachments
• What is a limitation for the ‘Cupboard Love’ theory?

  Passive vs Active Role?

  • Both classical and operant conditioning explanations see the baby playing a relatively passive role in attachment development
  • In fact, research shows that babies take a very active role in the interactions that produce attachment
  • This means that conditioning may not be an adequate explanation of any aspect of attachment
• What is a limitation for the ‘Cupboard Love’ theory?

  Counter-Evidence from Studies on Humans

  • In over 1/3 of cases, the mother did not do all of the day-to-day care for the infant yet in all cases, she became the Primary Caregiver
  • Schaffer and Emerson stated that the attachment was more about who was the most sensitive and loving in responding to the baby
  • This shows food is not the main factor in the formation of human attachment
• What is a limitation for the ‘Cupboard Love’ theory?

  Counter-Evidence from Studies on Animals

  • Lorenz’s geese imprinted on the first moving object they saw, regardless of whether the object was associated with food
  • When given a choice, Harlow’s monkeys displayed attachment behaviour towards the cloth ‘mother’ rather than the wire one which provided milk
  • This shows that factors other than association with food are important in the formation of attachments