Learning Theory of Attachment

• What does the learning theory of attachment suggest about behavior?

  Behavior is learned, not innate through birth
• What is the cupboard love theory proposed by Dollar & Miller?

  Attachment is formed based on who provides food
• How is attachment formed according to the cupboard love theory?

  Through methods similar to developing phobias
• What role does classical conditioning play in attachment development?

  It causes attachment by associating food with survival
• What is operant conditioning in the context of attachment?

  Reinforcing attachment through positive or negative means
• What happens if a caregiver negatively reinforces the attachment?

  Food would not be provided to the child
• What is a neutral stimulus?

  An event that does not produce a response
• What is an unconditioned stimulus?

  An event that produces an innate reflex response
• What is a conditioned stimulus?

  An event that produces a learned response
• What is an unconditioned response?

  An innate reflex behavior to an unconditioned stimulus
• What is a conditioned response?

  A learned reflex behavior to a conditioned stimulus
• How do attachments form according to Sears?

  By associating hunger removal with the caregiver
• What are the points of evidence against the learning theory of attachment?

  • Lack of animal study support: Harlow's experiment shows contact comfort is crucial.
  • Lack of human study support: Schaffer indicates babies prefer emotional caregivers over food providers.
  • Involvement of conditioning: Conditioning is important, but assumes passivity in babies.
• What does Harlow's experiment suggest about attachment?

  Contact comfort overrides the requirement for food
• What does Schaffer suggest about babies and attachment?

  Babies form attachments to emotional caregivers, not just feeders
• What does the learning theory of attachment assume about babies?

  It assumes babies are passive in the attachment process
• What is the significance of conditioning in attachment formation?

  It highlights the feelings experienced with caregivers
• What is the primary drive associated with attachment formation according to Sears?

  The removal of hunger
• Fill in the blanks:

  A) Unconditioned Stimulus

  B) Unconditioned Response

  C) Neutral Stimulus

  D) Unconditioned Stimulus

  E) Unconditioned Response

  F) Conditioned Stimulus

  G) Conditioned Response