AO1: Learning theory

• Dollard & Miller proposed that Food is the key to all attachment behaviours. Thus, Learning theory focuses on the significant role of the caregiver as a provider of food. There are also two processes of learning proposed by the learning theory.
• The first process of learning is classical conditioning, known as learning via association. According to learning theory, the mother becomes the primary attachment figure as she provides food, leading to a formed association.
• In terms of attachment, classical conditioning in learning theory would propose food as an unconditioned stimulus which produces an innate, unconditioned response - pleasure. The caregiver is a neutral stimulus and produces no response. During the learning stage, the neutral stimulus and the unconditioned stimulus are paired together continuously (through feeding) and an association forms. The caregiver becomes a conditioned stimulus and produces a conditioned response of pleasure, to learning theorists, this is the equivalent of attachment formation.
• The second form of learning is operant conditioning, Learning via reinforcement. This can take different types of reinforcement, such as positive, negative and vicarious. Behaviour that is rewarded or positively responded to, is more likely to be repeated and behaviour that is negatively responded to (punished) is less likely to be repeated. Thus, when a baby cries and receives food, the infant has experienced positive reinforcement, as their behaviour was positively responded to.
• However, reinforcement in learning theory can be viewed as a two-way mutual process, as the baby experiences positive reinforcement (as they are provided with the provision of food), the caregiver experiences negative reinforcement as their behaviour (providing food) removes something negative (The baby's crying) - thus reinforcing their behaviour through negative reinforcement. It has been suggested that this mutual interplay of reinforcement leads to the development of a strengthened attachment bond.
• Drive reduction theory suggests that Hunger is an innate, primary drive for infants and that attachment is a secondary drive. Searsy et al, suggest that caregivers provide food so that the primary drive of hunger becomes generalised to them, leading to attachment becoming a second drive.