Learning theory

• How do babies form attachments through classical conditioning?

  Food (unconditioned stimulus) -> happy baby (unconditioned response)

  Mother (neutral stimulus) + food (unconditioned stimulus) -> happy baby (unconditioned response)

  Mother (conditioned stimulus) -> happy baby (conditioned response)
• How does positive reinforcement explain attachments?

  The food is the reward for the behaviour that causes feeding
• How does negative reinforcement explain attachment?

  Baby feels hunger -> unpleasant feeling

  Being fed gives pleasure -> unpleasant feeling removed

  The source of food is a source of reinforcement, so baby seeks to be with food giver
• What does Dollard and Miller say about learning theory?


  Babies are fed over 2000 times in their first year, usually by main caregiver, giving plenty time to make an association
• What evidence goes against operant conditioning?

  In 39% of cases the mother (main feeder) was not babies main attachment
• What is an issue with learning theory?

  Reductionist - cognitive process and emotional attachment play a part