A01 Explanations for attachment: Learning Theory

• Sears et al

  Caregivers provide food, the primary drive of hunger is generalised to them. The attachment becomes the secondary drive as an association is made between the caregiver and the satisfaction of a primary drive
• Attachment as a secondary drive

  Learning theory draws on the concept of drive reduction, hunger can be thought as a primary drive because it's an innate, biological motivator. We are motivated to eat in order to reduce the hunger drive
• Reinforcement is a two-way process

  Baby is reinforced for crying and caregiver receives negative reinforcement because crying stops. There is an interplay of mutual reinforcement which strengthens attachment
• Operant conditioning

  Explains why babies cry for comfort. Crying leads to a response from caregiver- like feeding. Caregiver reinforces crying and baby directs crying towards caregiver who responds with comforting 'social suppresser' behaviour
• Caregiver

  Starts off as a neutral stimulus and over time becomes a conditioned stimulus once conditioning has occurred, the sight of the caregiver provides a conditioned response of pleasure to a learning theorist this is love
• Classical conditioning


  In terms of attachment, food is an unconditioned stimulus and being fed is a pleasure which is an unconditioned response. When the person constantly provides food over time they become associated with the food
• Learning theory and attachment

  Dollard and Miller cupboard love approach using learning theory emphasises on caregiver giving food - children learn to love whoever feeds them