AO3

• a limitation is that it is too simplistic an there are gaps in the studies which makes them less reliable
• another limitation is that Harlow's results undermine the learning theory because it found that monkeys based attachment on comfort and not food
• a strength is that there is research to support the study such as harlow and Lorenz which shows that factors other than association with food are important in formation of attachment
• a weakness of using animal studies is that it cannot be generalised to humans which reduces the reliability of the studies
• a limitation is a lack of support from studies of human babies. there is shaffer and Emerson which found that attachment is formed based off who has fed them and still face which is where babies wanted comfort from their mothers. This suggests that food isn't the main factor in for formation of human attachments
• a strength is that elements of conditioning could be involved in some areas of attachment. babies can associate the feeling of warm an comfort in the presence of an adult which would influence the bay to form an attachment. This means that the learning theory may still be useful in understanding the development of attachments
• however a weakness of conditioning being involved is that babies would have to have a passive role in attachment development but it is shown that they do have an active role. Therefore conditioning might not be the right explaination for certain areas of attachment