learning theory

• P: a criticism of learning theory is that it is largely based on studies with non-human animals, such as skinner's research with pigeons

  E: behaviourists believe humans are no different from other animals in terms of how they learn. our behaviour patterns are constructed from the same basic buildings blocks of stimulus and response therefore they argue it is legitimate to generalise from animals studies to human behaviour. however, not all human behaviour can be explained by conditioning, especially a complex behaviour such as attachment
• link for learning theory being based on animal studies

  L: therefore, behaviourist explanations may lack validity because they present an oversimplified version of human behaviour
• P: the main limitation of learning theory as an explanation for attachment is that it suggests that food is the key element in the formation of attachment

  E: there is evidence to show feeding has nothing to do with attachment. study conducted by harlow showed that infant monkeys were most attached to wire mother that provided contact comfort, not food.
• link for attachment not being based on food

  L: these research studies therefore suggest that the learning explanation is oversimplified and ignores other important factors such as contact comfort
• P: one strength of learning theory is it can explain some aspects of attachment

  E: infants do learn from association and reinforcement, but food may not be the main reinforcer. it may be that attention and responsiveness from a caregiver are important rewards that assist in the formation of attachment. such reinforcers were not part of the learning theory account. it may also be that responsiveness is something that infants imitate and thus learn about how to conduct relationships
• link for explanatory power

  L: learning theory may not provide a complete explanation of attachment but still has some value