learning theory of attachment

learning theory of attachment

1. attachment is just conditioning.

   • operant
     • consequence/ reinforcement
       • parents become negatively reinforced
       • baby is positively reinforced
     • parents will feed the baby more to stop them from crying to get rid of negative stimulus (crying), so the baby will carry on crying to keep being fed.
       • if you respond every time the baby cries, you can get negative feed back. crying becomes the attachment.
     • Skinner
       • the rat study.
   • classical
     • association
       • baby associates love and happiness with food, parents give food therefore baby associates love with parent.
       • Pavlov's dogs
       • little albert

2. the idea that food is the primary driver

   • Schaffer
     • attachment formed mostly to fun/caring/loving caregivers rather than foodgiver
   • Harlow
     • Preferred cloth monkey over wire monkey regardless of food.
   • Lorenz
     • imprinting with ducks/geese: imprinted on the first thing they saw.
       • animals aren't humans