Learning theory of attachment

• The learning theory of attachment says that children form attachments based on primary care [ feeding ], it is a behaviourist theory
• In the SLT of attachment, the child associates the caregiver with food, so shows a positive response when around the caregiver [ classical conditioning ]
• In the SLT of attachment, the child learns that an attachment will lead to food / attention, [ positive reinforcement ]

  The caregiver benefits from the attachment by gaining the baby's affection [ positive reinforcement ] and stopping the baby from crying [ negative reinforcement]
• Hunger is the primary drive in children, attachment is a secondary drive by association of caregiver with food
• A weakness of the SLT of attachment is that research suggests that the quality of attachment is improved with higher levels of reciprocity / interactional synchrony. There are other variables not considered by the theory, it is reductionist
• A strength of the SLT for attachment is Hay and Vespos theory [1988] that attachment is learnt through parents modelling behaviour and then rewarding attachment behaviour shown by the baby. Babies learn through operant conditioning even if food is not primary drive