Learning Theory

Learning Theory

1. Operant Conditioning = learning by Reinforcement

   • A newborn baby will cry when it's hungry or cold. The sound is uncomfortable to the caregiver so they will attempt to feed it/cuddle it
     • Those behaviours are rewarding for the baby = positive reinforcement
       • The baby will settle down and stop crying = Negative reinforcement (taking away the uncomfortable stimulus)
   • The crying produces a reward for the baby (food/attention)
     • The baby will learn to repeat this behaviour to get food = food is the primary reinforcer
   • The cuddling/feeding removes the crying so the parent learns to feed and cuddle the baby when it cries
     • The mother becomes the secondary reinforcer as the mum = food --- This forms the attachment

2. Classical Conditioning = learning by association (creating a link)

   • The food = unconditioned stimulus which provides an unconditioned response (reflex) in the baby of pleasure at being fed
   • As the mother is always present when the baby is fed, she becomes associated with the pleasure of food - The baby forms an attachment with the mother because of this
   • The mother gains pleasure from the babies cooing, smiling, reduced crying etc. leading her to form an attachment with the baby

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