learning theory

• classical conditioning - learning through association

  operant conditioning - learning through reinforcement

  social learning theory - learning through observing others
• learning theory of attachment

  suggests that all behaviour is learnt rather than inborn and that children are born as ‘blank slates’ and that they are shaped by their experiences.
• classical conditioning (pavlov)

  • When an infant is a few weeks/months old certain things become associated with food,because they are present when the  infant is fed e.g sounds,infant’s months(neutral stimuli).
  • The NS is consistently associated with a UCS  and takes on the properties of the UCS to produce the same response.The NS is now a CS and produces a CR.
  • In this case the person who feeds the child is the NS which becomes the CS and gives the infant happiness(CR).
• operant conditioning (skinner)

  • Dollard and MIller offered an explanation of attachment based on operant conditioning
  • A ‘drive’ is something that motivates behaviour e.g the infant is hungry and there is a drive to reduce the discomfort.
  • When an infant is fed the drive is reduced and they are rewarded through negative reinforcement
  • Food is seen as the primary reinforcer. Through the process of classical conditioning the person supplying the food becomes associated with avoiding discomfort.
  • Attachment occurs because the child seeks the person who can supply the reward.
• social learning theory (bandura)

  Dole Hay and Jo Vespo(1988) suggested that  modelling could be used to explain attachment behaviours.They said that children observe their parents affectionate behaviour and then imitate this. Parents would also deliberately instruct their children about how to behave in relationships and reward appropriate attachment behaviours such as giving kisses and hugs.