Learning theory

• What are the two main forms of learning in behaviourism?

  Classical conditioning and operant conditioning
• What is classical conditioning?


  • Learning through association
  • Involves pairing an unconditioned stimulus with a neutral stimulus
  • The neutral stimulus eventually elicits the same response as the unconditioned stimulus
• What occurs during classical conditioning?


  Two stimuli are repeatedly paired together
• What is operant conditioning?


  Learning that occurs due to actions and rewards
• Give an example of operant conditioning.


  A rat pressing a lever in a Skinner box
• What is positive reinforcement?


  • Rewards the desired behavior
  • Adds something pleasant
  • Encourages repetition of the behavior
• What is an example of a reward in operant conditioning?


  The rat receiving food for pressing the lever
• What role does a reward play in operant conditioning?


  It acts as a reinforcer, causing the action to be repeated
• What is negative reinforcement?


  • Rewards the desired behavior
  • Removes something unpleasant
  • Example: handing in an essay to avoid being told off
• How does negative reinforcement work in a classroom setting?


  A student hands in an essay to avoid being reprimanded
• What is the Learning Theory of Attachment?


  It is a behavioral explanation of how infants develop attachments to their caregivers.
• How does the Learning Theory of Attachment explain the development of attachments?


  It suggests that attachment is learned through classical and operant conditioning.
• What is classical conditioning in the context of attachment?


  It is the process where babies learn to associate the caregiver with the pleasure of being fed.
• What is the Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS) in the context of attachment?


  Food, which naturally produces a feeling of pleasure in the baby.
• What does the Unconditioned Response (UCR) refer to?


  The feeling of pleasure produced by food in the baby.
• What is the Neutral Stimulus (NS) in the attachment process?

  The caregiver, who initially doesn’t produce the pleasure response.
• What happens after repeated pairing of the caregiver with food?

  The caregiver becomes a Conditioned Stimulus (CS) that elicits pleasure.
• What is the Conditioned Response (CR) in the context of attachment?


  The pleasure response elicited by the caregiver, even without food.
• How does the attachment form over time according to the Learning Theory of Attachment?


  The baby forms an attachment to the caregiver because they are associated with the pleasurable feelings of being fed.
• What are the key concepts of the Learning Theory of Attachment?


  • Classical Conditioning (Association)
  • Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS): Food
  • Unconditioned Response (UCR): Pleasure from food
  • Neutral Stimulus (NS): Caregiver
  • Conditioned Stimulus (CS): Caregiver after association with food
  • Conditioned Response (CR): Pleasure from caregiver
• What does operant conditioning suggest about behaviors?


  Behaviors are influenced by their consequences (reinforcements or punishments).
• How does positive reinforcement work in the context of attachment?


  The caregiver provides positive reinforcement, such as food or comfort, when the baby cries.
• What is the effect of crying on the baby's behavior in operant conditioning?


  Crying results in the caregiver providing food or comfort, reinforcing the crying behavior.
• What is the caregiver's response to the baby's cries in terms of negative reinforcement?


  Responding to the baby's cries leads to the cessation of crying, which encourages the caregiver to respond to the baby's needs.
• How does mutual reinforcement build attachment between caregiver and baby?


  • Caregiver provides positive reinforcement (food, comfort) for crying.
  • Baby's crying behavior is reinforced by receiving attention.
  • Caregiver's response leads to cessation of crying (negative reinforcement).
  • This cycle strengthens the attachment between them.
• What is one limitation of the learning theory explanation for attachment?


  The lack of support from animal studies
• What did Lorenz's geese do in his study regarding imprinting?


  They imprinted on the first moving object they saw, regardless of food association
• What does Harlow's research with monkeys suggest about attachment?


  It suggests that factors other than food, such as contact comfort, are important for attachment
• According to the learning theory, what should have happened with Harlow's monkeys regarding the 'wire mother'?


  The monkeys should have become attached to the 'wire mother' providing food
• What did Harlow find regarding the attachment behaviors of monkeys towards the surrogate mothers?


  Monkeys displayed attachment behaviors towards the soft surrogate mother
• What are the key findings from Harlow's research on attachment in monkeys?


  • Monkeys preferred the soft surrogate mother over the wire mother
  • Attachment behaviors were not based on food association
  • Contact comfort is crucial for the formation of attachment
• How do Lorenz's and Harlow's studies challenge the learning theory of attachment?


  • Lorenz's geese imprinted on non-food objects
  • Harlow's monkeys preferred comfort over food
  • Both studies indicate that attachment is influenced by factors beyond food association
• What does the learning theory of attachment argue?


  We become most attached to the person that feeds us.
• What evidence contradicts the learning theory of attachment?

  Schaffer and Emerson (1969) found less than ½ of children had attachments to those that fed them.
• What did Schaffer and Emerson (1969) conclude about attachment in relation to caregivers?


  Attachment is strongest with parents, even if a nanny takes care of the child.
• How does the learning theory of attachment fail according to Schaffer and Emerson's findings?


  If the theory were correct, 100% of babies would have formed attachments with those who fed them.
• What did Isabella et al (1989) find regarding interactional synchrony?


  High levels of interactional synchrony predicted the quality of attachment.
• What is suggested about food in relation to attachment formation?


  Food is not the main factor in the formation of attachment.
• What are the key findings of Schaffer and Emerson (1969) regarding attachment?


  • Less than ½ of children formed attachments to those who fed them.
  • Attachment is strongest with parents, regardless of who provides care.
• What is the relationship between interactional synchrony and attachment quality according to Isabella et al (1989)?


  • High levels of interactional synchrony predict better quality of attachment.
  • Interactional synchrony is not related to feeding.