Learning theory - an explanation of attachment explaining how infants learn to become attached to their primary caregiver through classical conditioning or operant conditioning.
Learning theory - it is thought that infants will form an attachment to whoever feeds them.
AO3. The learning theory is undermined by research by Harlow. He found that rhesus monkeys spent more time with a comforting cloth “mother” rather than a wire “mother” providing food. This shows that monkeys do not form attachments based on food and prefer comfort. Schaffer and Emmerson also support this as they found that infants formed attachments to their mothers despite being fed by other carers too.
AO3. Learning theory is refuted by Lorenz. He found that baby geese followed the first moving object they saw after hatching. This is imprinting, an innate behaviour that must have not been learnt as they did not have time. This shows that non-human animals show attachment behaviours without learning.
AO3. There are methodological issues with research into learning theory. Pavlov did his research on dogs and Skinner did his on rats. This has been criticised because the theories over rely on animals. It can be argued that the bond between a human infant and caregiver is much more emotionally complex. This means it may lack validity.
