attachment - learning theory

attachment - learning theory

1. suggests that attachment is a set of learned behaviours.

2. An infant will initially form an attachment to whoever feeds it.

3. They learn to associate the feeder with the comfort of being fed and through the process of classical conditioning, come to find contact with the mother comforting.

   • UCS = UCR NS = UCR CS = CR

4. certain behaviours (crying, smiling) bring desirable responses (attention, comfort), and through the process of operant conditioning learn to repeat these behaviors in order to get the things they want

   • positive reinforcement - encourages a behaviour to continue by providing a reward every time behaviour occurs
   • negative reinforcement - removing a positive stimulus to discourage a behaviour