Learning theory

• People behave in certain ways because they have learned to do so.

  • cupboard love theory= food based
  • focused on behaviour rather than the thoughts
• CLASSICAL CONDITIONING

  • baby gets pleasure from the food, mum is neutral but is the one that feeds the baby
  • baby associates mum with pleasure as she provides food
  • baby becomes attached as they are happy to see mum, thinking they will be fed.
• OPERANT CONDITIONING

  • each time we do something that results in a pleasant consequence that behaviour is hard-wired and likely to be repeated
  • positive reinforcer= something that rewards behaviour
  • negative reinforcer= when a response switches off something unpleasant
• Crying leads to a response from the caregiver ex to feed the baby so the crying is reinforced as the baby directs crying towards the caregiver who responds with comforting 'social suppressor'