Learning Theory - Attachment

Learning Theory - Attachment

1. Classical Conditioning - primary care giver becomes associated with pleasure from feeding, comfort, warmth etc.

2. Operant Conditioning - child is able to maximise rewards using social releasers such as smiling or crying to get attention. This attention-seeking behaviour is reinforced every time the caregiver responds positively to the child.

3. A reciprocal bond is formed as a result of both of these processes

4. Learning Theory suggests that attachments are learnt in interaction with the environment; they are not innate. Therefore, nurture wins over nature

   • Ethologists like Lorenz and Harlow argued that an infant is born preprogrammed to form attachments and that there is a small window of opportunity for this to happen. This would mean that nature wins over nurture.