explanations : learning theory

• who came up with the learning theory of attachment

  Dollard and Miller
• what was the learning theory of attachment called ?

  cupboard love - emphasises importance of the attachment figure providing food
• classical conditioning - learning theory of attachment

  * learning via association

  * NS (caregiver) = no response

  * UCS (food) = UCR (pleasure)

  * UCS + NS = UCR

  * CS (caregiver) = CR (pleasure)

  * caregiver becomes associated with food

  * pleasure response is love - attachment forms to caregiver
• operant conditioning - learning theory of attachment

  * learning through consequence

  * positive reinforcement - child cries and is fed by caregiver which results in a positive response

  * negative reinforcement - crying stops when infant is fed
• drives - learning theory of attachment

  * primary drive - hunger as an innate, biological motivation to eat

  * secondary drive - attachment between caregiver and infant due to satisfaction of primary drive
• four ao3 point - learning theory of attachment

  * conditioning can be used in attachment

  * counter evidence from animal studies

  * counter evidence from human studies

  * not holistic
• ao3 conditioning in attachment - learning theory of attachment

  element of conditioning can still be involved in some aspects of attachment. for example, babies may associate the feeling of warm and comfort with the presence of a particular adult, forming an attachment and influencing the primary caregiver. operant conditioning can also be used in aspects of parenting, including potty training and bed times. the learning theory is still useful in understanding the development of attachments.
• ao3 counter evidence from animal studies - learning theory of attachment

  there is a lack of support for cupboard love from studies conducted on animals. harlow’s research shows rhesus monkeys attach to the soft, cloth surrogate ‘mother’ rather than the one that provides food, suggesting contact comfort is more important for an attachment than food. factors other than association with food are important for the development of attachments with a primary caregiver
• ao3 counter evidence from human studies - learning theory of attachment

  Schaffer and Emerson found that babies main attachment was their mother (65%), regardless of who fed them the most regularly. Isabella found having high levels or reciprocity and interactional synchrony predicted the quality of attachment. this suggests food isn’t the main factor in the formation of human attachments, reducing validity of Dollard and Miller’s cupboard love theory.
• ao3 not a holistic view - learning theory of attachment

  research evidence contradicts the idea that food is the main factor needed for the formation of a primary attachment. this suggests that biology is also involved in attachment formation, including levels of oxytocin. additionally, those who spent the most quality time with the infant were much more likely to be the primary caregiver. this reduces generalisability and validity of the cupboard love theory due to how simplistic it is.