Learning Theory and Attachment

• what is learning theory of attachment?

  • A behaviour explanation that suggests that infants learn to become attached to their primary caregiver through the process of either classical conditioning or operant conditioning
• what is the learning theory of attachment also referred to as?

  the ‘cupboard love’ theory because the main principle of this explanation for attachment focuses on food

  • it is thought that infants will form an attachment to whoever feeds them
• what is classical conditioning?

  attachment is learned when an association between food and the primary caregiver is made
• what is operant conditioning?

  attachment is learned when the primary caregiver reduces the discomfort of hunger, with food
• how does classical conditioning work within caregiver infant interactions?

  • caregiver begins as neutral stimulus
  • food (unconditioned stimulus) produces pleasure (unconditioned response)
  • through repetitive feeding, child associates caregiver who feeds them (neutral stimulus) with food (unconditioned stimulus)
  • caregiver becomes conditioned stimulus, associated with pleasure from feeding
• how does operant conditioning work in caregiver infant interactions?

  • infant feels hungry and has a drive to reduce these unpleasant feelings so is likely to cry in order to receive comfort
  • caregiver provides food and pleasure feeling is produced for infant (positive reinforcement)
  • behaviour which elicited reward (crying) will be repeated
  • caregiver gets reward when infant stops crying (negative reinforcement) so caregiver behaviour will be repeated
  • reinforcement is a reciprocal process since both experience reward, so both will repeat behaviour
• who applied the principles of reward and reinforcement to explain human attachment between caregiver and and infant?

  Dollard & Miller (1950)
• discuss attachment as a secondary drive

  • learning theory draws on the concept of drive reduction
  • hunger can be thought of as a primary drive - it is as innate, biological motivator
  • we are motivated to eat in order to reduce the hunger drive (food is primary reinforcer)
  • learning theorists suggests as caregivers provide food, the primary drive of hunger becomes generalised to them
  • attachment is therefore the secondary drive - occurs because infant will seek the person who can supply the reward ( caregiver, to satisfy the primary drive - they become the secondary reinforcer)
• what is counter evidence of learning theory?

  • Harlow - rhesus monkeys attach for contact comfort not food
  • Lorenz - goslings imprinted on Lorenz to increase chance of survival
  • Schaffer & Emerson - multiple attachments formed not because of providing food
• how is learning theorists view of the baby in attachments supportive and counter evidence for learning theory?

  • + learning theorists see the baby playing a relatively passive role in attachment - however others have pointed out the active roles babies can play (alert phases)
  • - sensitive responsiveness may be more influential in forming attachments e.g awareness of alert phases, engagement in interactional synchrony and reciprocity. Infants are active seekers of stimulation, not passive responders
• how is the scientific approach of learning theory supportive and counter evidence?

  • + learning theory has a scientific approach (objective data) and if founded on established theories, e.g. Skinner and Pavlov - therefore it’s plausible that association between the provision of needs and the person providing those needs can lead to strong attachments
  • - other factors are important in the development of attachment e.g. Bowlby’s evolutionary basis of attachment - staying close to primary caregiver gives protection and increases survival chances (Lorenz geese)