Attachment - Learning theory (explanations)

• What is the learning theory of attachment?

  From the behaviourist approach emphasises the role of learning in acquisition of behaviour

  Learning of behaviour involves classical and operant conditioning
• Who proposed caregiver-infant attachment can be explained by the learning theory?

  Dollard & Miller
• Why is Dollard & Miller’s approach referred to as ‘cupboard love’?

  Emphasises the importance of the attachment figure as provider of food

  (Children learn to love whoever feeds them)
• What is classical conditioning within the learning theory of attachment?

  Involves learning to associate 2 stimuli so we begin to respond to one in the same way as the other
• Explain the order of classical conditioning of attachment

  Unconditioned stimulus = Unconditioned response

  (Food) = (Pleasure)

  Neutral stimulus = No response

  (Caregiver)

  Unconditioned + Neutral stimulus = Unconditioned response

  (Food) + (Caregiver) = (Pleasure)

  (When caregiver provides food over time they become associated with the food so neutral stimulus becomes conditioned stimulus)

  Conditioned stimulus = Conditioned response

  (Caregiver) = (Response)
• At the end of classical conditioning of attachment there is a conditioned response what do learning theorists believe this is?

  Love - an attachment is formed and the caregiver becomes an attachment figure
• What is operant conditioning?

  Involves learning from the consequences of behaviour

  • If behaviour produces a pleasant consequence likely to be repeated again (reinforced)
  • If behaviour produces an unpleasant consequence less likely to be repeated (punishment)
• How does operant conditioning explain babies crying for comfort?

  • Crying leads to a response from the caregiver
  • If caregiver provides correct response crying is reinforced
  • Baby then directs crying for comfort towards caregiver who responds with ‘social suppressor’ behaviour
  • This reinforcement is a 2 way process
  • Caregiver receives negative reinforcement because crying stops
  • This mutual reinforcement is important in building and strengthening attachment
• Other than conditioning what else does learning theory draw on?

  Drive reduction
• Explain the concept of drive reduction in attachment (Sears)

  Hunger is a primary drive - innate

  Motivated to eat to reduce the hunger drive

  Sears - suggested as caregivers we provide food so the drive of hunger becomes generalized to them

  So attachment is a secondary drive learned by association between caregiver and satisfaction of a primary drive
• What are the evaluation points for learning theory of attachment?

  • Strength : Elements of conditioning could be involved in attachment
  • Counterpoint : Conditioning displays baby taking a passive role whereas (Feldman & Eidelman) suggest active role
  • Limitation : Counterevidence from other studies (Schaffer & Emerson) & (Isabella)
• What is the strength of there being elements of conditioning involved in some aspects of attachment?

  • Unlikely food plays a central role in attachment but conditioning may still play a role
  • E.g. a baby might associate feeling warm & comfortable with presence of a particular adult
  • Can influence the baby’s choice of main attachment figure
  • So learning theory can be useful in understanding development of attachments
• What is the counterpoint to there being some elements of conditioning involved (Feldman & Eidelman)?


  • Both conditioning explanations see baby take on a passive role in attachment development (just responding to associations with comfort or reward)
  • Feldman & Eidelman research shows babies take an active role in interactions
  • So conditioning might not be an adequate explanation of any aspect of attachment
• What is the limitation of there being counter evidence from human baby studies (Schaffer & Emerson) & (Isabella)

  • Lack of support from studies
  • Schaffer & Emerson - found babies formed their main attachment to mother regardless of whether she was the one who fed them
  • Isabella - found high levels of interactional synchrony predicted quality of attachment
  • Suggests food isn’t the main factor in the formation of human attachments