learning theory of attachment

• which approach does this theory focus on

  behaviourist
• who were the psychologist of this theory

  dollard and miller (1950)
• what does this theory emphasise

  the importance of the attachment figure as a provider for food
• what type of conditioning does this learning theory involve

  classical
• what’s the classical conditioning before conditioning

  food (UCS) -> happy baby (UCR)
• what’s the classical conditioning during conditioning 


  mother (NS) + food (UCS) -> happy baby (UCR)
• what’s the conditioning like afterwards

  mother (CS) -> happy baby (CR)
• what does operant conditioning say under this theory

  we learn through rewards, punishments and reinforcement.

  there’s a number of drive states like hunger for example so infants learn to cry to reduce this.
• babies communicate with the caregiver like crying for attention so they learn that contact with her is positively reinforcing. This causes attachments to form.