learning theory

• Learning theory says we have to learn to attach and we do so because of food
• Secondary drive - satisfaction of the primary hunger drive is associated with the caregiver
• Learning theory is sometimes called ‘cupboard love’ as it emphasises the importance of the caregiver as a provider of food
• In classical conditioning, the unconditioned stimulus (food) produces an unconditioned response of pleasure. The caregiver, a neutral stimulus, becomes associated with food and produces the conditioned response of love for the caregiver and attachment is formed.
• Pavlov demonstrated the process of classical conditioning in dogs
• Operant conditioning is learning through consequences
• In Skinner’s research, he operantly conditioned a rat to associate a lever and the action of pressing the lever with food.
• If crying results in feeding, then the consequences are pleasant and crying is reinforced
• Most carers dislike hearing a baby cry so stopping the crying is a negative reinforcer encouraging the carer to behave in such a way that the child stops crying.
• The child smiling is very rewarding and is therefore a positive reinforcer so the carer behaves in such a way as to evoke smiling
• There is counter evidence for the learning theory from animal research (Lorenz and Harlow)
• There is counter evidence for the learning theory from human research. Schaffer and Emerson found that many babies they studied developed a primary attachment to their biological mother even when other carers did most of the feeding.
• If attachment was a result of feeding alone there would be no need for complex interactions such as reciprocity and interactional synchrony and we would not expect to find relationships between infant and caregiver or secondary attachments