learning theory for attachment

• Learning Theory states that we learn to become attached to our caregivers. This is proposed to be due to what?

  Cupboard Love Theory
• What is Cupboard Love Theory?

  The theory that children learn to love whoever feeds them!
• How is Cupboard Love Theory proposed to happen?

  Classical and operant conditionining
• Who created Cupboard Love Theory?

  Dollard & Miller, 1950
• What is classical conditioning?

  Learning through association
• What is operant conditioning?

  Learning via consequences
• What is the first stage of classical conditioning?

  Unconditioned stimulus --> Unconditioned response
• Apply the first stage of classical conditioning to attachment theory.


  Food --> Pleasure
• What is the second stage of classical conditioning?

  Unconditioned stimulus + Neutral stimulus --> Unconditioned response
• Apply the second stage of classical conditioning to attachment theory.

  Food + Caregiver --> Pleasure
• What is the third stage of classical conditioning?

  Conditioned stimulus --> Conditioned response
• Apply the third stage of classical conditioning to attachment theory.


  Caregiver --> Pleasure
• Under operant conditioning, what is the positive reinforcement for the infant?


  Food
• Under operant conditioning, what is the negative reinforcement for the infant?


  Pain from hunger being taken away
• Under operant conditioning, what is the positive reinforcement for the caregiver?


  Having a happy baby from foodSee an expert-written answer!We have an expert-written solution to this problem!
• Under operant conditioning, what is the negative reinforcement for the caregiver?

  Baby stops crying
• As well as conditioning, the learning theory of attachment draws on the concept of drive reduction. What is the concept of drive reduction?


  Any behaviour that reduces thedriveswill be repeated by humans and animals.
• Why does any behaviour that reduces the drives be repeated by humans and animals?

  This is because the reduction of the drive serves as a positive reinforcement (i.e. a reward) for the behaviour that caused such drive reduction.
• What is an example of a primary drive?

  Hunger can be seen as a primary drive, it's an innate drive, we are driven to eat to reduce hunger
• Sears et al. (1957) suggested that caregivers provide food therefore attachment becomes a secondary drive. Why?


  The primary drive of hunger becomes associated with the caregiver because the caregiver provides food. Therefore, attachment becomes a secondary drive.
• What is the contradictory evidence for learning theories from animal studies?

  Harlow
• What did Harlow find?

  In Harlow's study, all monkeys spent most of their time with the cloth covered mother whether or not this mother had the feeding bottle.
• How does Harlow contradict learning theory?


  Learning theory makes the claim that infants form attachment to the person who feeds them, Harlow contradicts that because comfort was more important than food
• What is the contradictory evidence for learning theories from human studies?

  Schaffer & Emerson (1964)
• What did Schaffer & Emerson (1964) find?

  Attachment tended to be to the caregiver who was most interactive and sensitive to infant signals and facial expressions (i.e. reciprocity).
• How does Schaffer & Emerson (1964) contradict learning theory?


  Infants form an attachment to the caregiver who was most interactive, not the one who fed them
• What is the alternative explanation to learning theory?

  Bowlby's monotropy theory
• What did Bowlby believe?

  He believed that infants have an innate readiness during the critical period to form an attachment to their caregiver to protect them from harm whilst they are young and vulnerable
• Why is Bowlby's theory better than learning theory?

  Has far more supporting evidence than learning theory which is contradicted by a large body of evidence