The learning theory of attachment

• Classical conditioning of attachment

  1 Before conditioning: Food (Uncontrolled stimulus) produces a sense of pleasure in the baby (Unconditioned response)

  2 Before conditioning: the mother (neutral stimulus) does not respond to the baby (no conditioned response)

  3 During conditioning: Milk (Unconditioned stimulus) + Mother (Nutral stimulus) produces happiness (Unconditioned response) therefore the mother becomes associated with food

  4 After conditioning: The mother (conditioned stimulus) provides pleasure in the baby
• Operant conditioning 


  Learning through the consequences of behavior
• Positive reinforcement

  when a behavior produces a consequence that is satisfying and/or pleasant. This means the behavior is more likely to be repeated
• Negative reinforcement

  When a behavior removes something unpleasant. This memeanshe behaviour is more likely to be repeated
• Positive punishment

  When a behaviour is followed by an unpleasant consequence, therefore it is less likely to be repeated
• Negative punishment

  When behaviour is followed by an unpleasant consequence where something pleasant is taken away. this means that behaviour is less likely to be repeated
• Positive reinforcement for the baby

  The parent responds to the crying baby by giving food. This reducing the hunger and produces feeling of pleasure
• Negative reinforcement for the Mother

  When mum feeds the baby the crying stops