Learning theory

• What is the learning theory?

  A set of theories from the behaviourist approach to psychology, that emphasise the role of learning in the acquisition of behaviour. Explanations for learning of behaviour include classical and operant conditioning
• Classical conditioning


  In terms of attachment:

  • Unconditioned stimulus (food) ---> unconditioned response (pleasure)
  • Neutral stimulus (caregiver) ---> no response
  • Unconditioned + neural (food & caregiver) ---> unconditioned response (pleasure)
  • Conditioned stimulus (caregiver) ---> conditioned response (pleasure)
• Classical conditioning explained-


  Regarding attachment, food serves as an unconditioned stimulus, being fed gives us pleasure which is an unconditioned response. A caregiver starts as a neural stimulus (something that produces no response). However, when the caregiver provides food over time they become associated with it. The neural stimulus has become the conditioned stimulus. Once conditioning has taken place then the sight of the caregiver produces a conditioned response of pleasure
• what is operant conditioning-

  Involves learning from consequences of behaviour. If a behaviour produces a pleasant consequence, that behaviour is likely to be repeated again (reinforced). If a behaviour produces an unpleasant consequence (punishment) then it is less likely to be repeated
• Operant conditioning in attachment -

  Crying leads to a response from the caregiver, for example, feeding. As long as the caregiver provides the correct response then the behaviour is reinforced. The baby then directs the crying for comfort towards the caregiver who responds with comforting 'social suppressor' behaviour. The reinforcement is a 2-way process. At the same time that the baby is being reinforced for crying, the caregiver receives negative reinforcement because the crying stops - escaping from something unpleasant is reinforcing
• Evaluation: counter-evidence from animal studies

  1 limitation is the lack of support from studies conducted on animals. Lorenz's geese imprinted on the first moving object they saw regardless of whether this object was associated with food. Furthermore, in Harlow's study, there is no support for the importance of food. The monkeys displayed attachment towards the soft cloth mother compared to the wire one which dispensed food. This shows that factors other than food are important in the formation of attachment
• Evaluation: counter-evidence from studies on humans

  Schaffer & Emerson found that babies tended to form their main attachment to their mother regardless of whether she was the one who usually fed them. In another study, Isabella et al found that the high levels of interactional synchrony predicted the quality of attachment. These factors are not related to feeding.
• Evaluation: some conditioning may be involved

  It seems unlikely that association with food plays a central role in attachment, but conditioning may still play a role. For example, a baby may associate a feeling of being warm and comfortable with the presence of a particular adult, and this may influence the baby's choice of their main attachment figure