Behaviourist Explanation

Behaviourist Explanation

1. Classical Conditioning

   • Definition = learning about the different types of associations between things in the environment
     • e.g food gives baby pleasure
   • Baby links food with mother
     • = baby feels pleasure when sight of mother forming an attachment

2. Case study (support)

   • Dollard & Millar (1950)
     • Operant Conditioning
       • Definition = learn through rewards and reinforcement
         • e.g when a baby is hungry, it cries
           • Baby knows when he cries, mother will give him food
       • Food is the primary reinforcer
         • Mother is the secondary reinforcer
           • = course of reward for baby and creates an attachment
   • Harlow & Harlow (1959)
     • Aim = to see if baby monkeys prefer food or protection & comfort
     • Method = Monkeys raised in isolation (lab study) with 2 surrogate mothers
     • Results = monkeys spent most time with protection mother and only used food mother for food
     • Conclusion = Food isn't the most important thing
     • Evaluation = Monkeys suffered from social and emotional disruption when grown up leading to bad mothers
   • Schaffer & Emerson (1964)
     • Aim = to see how quickly babies formed attachments with mothers
     • Method = studied 60 babies in first 18 months of life
     • Results = babies formed strong relationships with people that interacted most with them
       • Results = Babies have better relationships with people that show them love
     • Conclusion = Stronger attachment with people who show love, more than people who give them food