Learning theory

• Who was learning theory proposed by?

  Dollard and Miller
• What is meant by cupboard love?

  Children love person who feeds them and are likely to form attachment to person who feeds them the most

  • (Think of dogs running to the cupboard that has food in it)
• How can classical conditioning be applied to attachment?

  US = food

  UR = Happy baby

  NS = caregiver

  US + NS = Unconditioned response

  NS = Conditioned response

  CS = CR

  Caregiver = happy baby

  (US = unconditioned stimulus, UR = unconditioned response, NS = neutral stimulus, CR = conditioned stimulus, CR = conditioned response)
• How can operant coniditioning be applied to attachment?

  • Innate drives which must be satisfied
  • Primary reinforcers - stimuli that satisfy drivers (i.e hunger) and cause drive reduction
  • This is positive reinforcement, behaviour learned and repeated
  • Caregiver associated with food (secondary reinforcer), baby attaches to caregiver to be closer to source of reward (food)
  • Negative reinforcement happens when baby cries so that caregiver gives food, behaviour is learned and repeated
• Give one strength and two limitations of learning theory

  STRENGTH:

  • Provides adequate explanation for how attachments form

  LIMITATION:

  • Counter evidence from animal studies (Harlow monkeys)
  • Socially sensitive