learning theory

• What does the learning theory of attachment suggest?


  All infants are born as 'blank slates' and all behaviour is learned rather than innate.
• Cupboard love theory - Dolland and Miller (1950)


  Argues infants become attached to their caregiver because they learn that their caregiver provides food.
• Classical conditioning and attachment


  A child learns to associate their caregiver with their needs being met (feeding them) so an attachment is formed.

  The stimulus of food (unconditioned stimulus) produces pleasure (unconditioned response).

  The person providing the food (usually the mother) becomes associated with this pleasure and therefore changes from neutral stimulus to a conditioned stimulus.

  As an attachment is formed, the food giver becomes a source of pleasure (conditioned response) regardless of whether they provide food or not.
• Positive reinforcement and attachment


  Positive reinforcement occurs when a behaviour produces a consequence that is satisfying or pleasant.

  Crying causes the caregiver to feed them, so the crying behaviour is useful as it reduces hunger.
• Negative reinforcement and attachment


  Negative reinforcement occurs when something unpleasant is escaped from, removed or avoided.

  The sound of a baby crying is unpleasant for the mum. The mum will attempt to stop the crying by feeding the baby.
• + Provides useful information


  E - It explains that infants learn through association and reinforcement. Attention and responsiveness from a caregiver and sensitivity to the child's needs allow an attachment to be formed.

  E - Learning theory can be used to shape infants behaviour, ensuring they behave in a moral and respectful manner.

  L - Therefore, this shows how the learning theory can influence good behaviour from infants as they grow up.
• - Over simplified


  E - Learning theories are based on research with animals. Skinner's research (operant conditioning) and Pavlov's research (classical conditioning). Behaviourists believe that behaviour patterns are constructed from the same stimulus and responses so that results from animal studies can be generalised to human behaviour.

  E - Humans are less independent that animals and may attach differently because of this.

  L - Therefore, Behaviourist explanations lack validity because they present an over simplified version of human behaviour.
• - Attachments are not based on food (Schaffer and Emerson)


  E - Schaffer and Emerson: the first attachments formed by 39% of babies was not to the person who carried out physical care. Attachments were more likely to be formed to those individuals who are sensitive + rewarding to the baby + who play with the infant.

  E - This means that food may not be the main reinforcer but rather it could be the responsiveness from the caregiver.

  L - Therefore, this goes against the learning theories assumption that infants are more likely to form attachments with adults who meet their physical needs.
• - Attachments are not based on food (Harlow)


  E - The monkey's spent most of their time with the cloth 'mother' rather than the mother offering food.

  E - This suggests 'cupboard love' is unlikely to explain attachment as the monkeys should have attached to the mother with food but often will become attached to the caregiver offering comfort.

  L - Therefore, this shows attachments are not based on food.
• Learning theory

  • Classical conditioning (learning through association)
  • Operant conditioning (learning through reinforcement)
• Attachment as a secondary drive


  Drives are the desire to complete an action.

  Primary drives are instinctive.

  Secondary drives are learnt - classical and operant conditioning.