Learning Theory

• What is the cupboard love approach?

  Infants attach to the person who provides them with food
• What is the main assumption of learning theory?

  We learn from the environment and our experiences and we are all born as blank slates
• Which 2 researchers proposed the cupboard love approach?

  John Dollard and Neal Miller
• Through which two processes do we learn to develop attachments according to learning theory?

  Classical and operant conditioning
• How do infants develop attachment through classical conditioning?

  Infants learn to associate the unconditioned stimulus of food with the caregiver
• Name the unconditioned and neutral stimulus when babies learn to attach through classical conditioning

  x UCS= food x NS= mother
• What is drive reduction theory?

  When an animal is uncomfortable and this creates a drive to reduce that discomfort.
• How do infants learn to form attachments through operant conditioning?

  x When child is hungry they experience discomfort and have a drive to reduce this x They will cry - causes mother to feed them and drive is reduced = feelings of pleasure x Acts as negative reinforcement - infant has escaped something unpleasant x Behaviour that led to being fed = more likely to be repeated --> brings caregiver closer and leads to development of attachment.
• What is the primary and secondary reinforcer in operant conditioning?

  Food = primary reinforcer (supplies reward) x Caregiver = secondary reinforcer as they bring the food (they are associated with the food)