Explanations of attachment: learning theory

• Explanations of attachment: learning theory

  Dollard and Miller (1950)

  Classical conditioning

  Learning through association. In the case of attachment, food serves as an unconditioned stimulus. Being fed gives us pleasure and is an unconditioned response. A caregiver starts as a neutral stimulus. When provides food overtime, associated w/ food. The neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus. Once conditioning has taken place sight of caregiver produces conditioned response of pleasure (love).
• Explanations of attachment: learning theory 2

  Operant conditioning

  Learning through reinforcement and punishment. If a behaviour produces a pleasant consequence, is likely to be repeated. Explains why babies cry for comfort. Crying leads to result from caregiver (e.g., feeding), so crying reinforced. Reinforcement = two-way process. Same time as baby is positively reinforced, caregiver receives negative reinforcement because the crying stops (escaping something unpleasant). This interplay of mutual reinforcement strengthens an attachment.
• Explanations of attachment: learning theory 3

  Attachment as a secondary drive

  Learning theory also draws on concept of drive reduction. Hunger is a primary drive - it's innate, biological motivator. Motivated to eat to reduce hunger drive. Sears et al. (1957) suggested that, as caregivers provide food, the primary drive of hunger becomes generalised to them. Attachment is thus a secondary drive learned through association between caregiver and satisfaction of a primary drive.
• Explanations of attachment: learning theory- evaluation

  Counter-evidence from animal research. A range of animal studies has shown that animals don't necessarily attach to those who feed them Lorenz's geese imprinted before they were fed and Harlow's monkeys attached to a soft surrogate in preference to wired one that dispensed milk.
• Explanations of attachment: learning theory- evaluation 2

  Counter-evidence from human research. Research w/ human infants also show that feeding does not appear to be an important factor in humans. In Schaffer and Emerson's study, many of the babies developed a primary attachment to their biological mother even though other carers did most of the feeding. Shows there is no unconditioned stimulus or primary drive involved.
• Explanations of attachment: learning theory- evaluation 3

  Ignores other factors associated w/ forming attachments. Research into early infant-caregiver interaction suggests quality of attachment is associated w/ developing reciprocity and good levels of interactional synchrony (Isabella et al. 198). In addition, studies have shown that the best quality attachments are w/ sensitive carers that pick up infant signals and respond appropriately. If attachment developed purely or primarily as a result of feeding, there would be no purpose for these complex interactions.