Learning theory of attachment

Learning theory of attachment

1. this is more focused on nurture

2. proposes attachment is learnt from the environment- this is through conditioning.

3. Operant conditioning- learning through consenquences

   • this is when the child performs various behaviours such as crying, which results in being fed by the caregiver = consenquence.
     • which causes repitition, through positive reinforcement.
     • likewise the caregiver is negatively reinforced, this is when the caregiver responds to the unpleasant stimulus to stop the child crying= also repeated
   • mutual reinforcement= forms an attachment

4. Classical conditioning- learning by association

   • This is when the same person fufils the infant's needs (neutral stimuli) with the feeling of comfort= unconditioned response
     • infant learns to associate the caregiver with the feeling of comfort.
     • after multiple pairings= caregiver is the conditioned stimulus and response is conditioned

5. Dollard and Miller

   • combination of both
   • desirable responses from infants= operant conditioning
   • learn to associate the pleasure with caregiver= classical conditioning

6. Evaluation

   • Disads
     • Animal studies as they propose comfort over food
     • Schaffer and Emerson 1964
       • attachment to responsive individuals
   • Ads
     • Dollar and Miller
     • animals and humans easy to generalise