Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
EXPLANATIONS OF ATTACHMENT: LEARNING THEORY - Coggle Diagram
EXPLANATIONS OF ATTACHMENT: LEARNING THEORY
Learning Theory
The basic principle of learning theory = proposed by behaviourists + states that all behaviour is learned rather than innate
Classical Conditioning
The baby forms an association between the mother (a neutral stimulus) + the feeling of pleasure that comes from being fed (an innate, unconditioned response)
At first, the baby feels comforted by the food but each time he is fed, the mother is there too
He quickly associates the mother with the feeling of pleasure of being fed
The mother (conditioned stimulus) stimulates the feeling of pleasure on her own (conditioned response), even without food
This means that the baby feels pleasure when the mother is near which is the beginning of forming an attachment
Operant Conditioning
The mother rewards the baby by feeding home, so he associates the mother with the reward + repeats any action that brings her closer
This happens because food brings a feeling of pleasure (which is a reward) to the baby
Food = primary reinforcer - by removing the discomfort, it reinforces the behaviour that led to its arrival
Food doesn't come without the mother bringing it
Mother = secondary reinforcer - even without bringing food the presence of the mother reduces discomfort + brings a feeling of pleasure
The baby will therefore repeat any action, e.g. crying which brings the mother close
Supporting study - Dollard + Miller
They found that babies are fed over 2000 times in the first year by the main carer
This is easily enough for an association between caregiver + feeding to be formed + highlighting that the learning theory may explain how attachments occur
Contradictory Evidence - Harlow
The learning theory would suggest that the monkey would spend most time with the wire mother who provided the monkey with food
However monkeys spent 22 hours with the cloth mother showing that food is not the most important factor in establishing attachment
Bowlbys theory may provide a better explanation for attachment as it suggests that sensitivity + security are an innate drive within animals
Further contradictory evidence was supplied by Lorenz who demonstrated that goslings have an innate drive to attach known as imprinting, this shows that attachment is not the result of being fed
ATTACHMENTS DEVELOP WITH THOSE WHO DO NOT FEED THE INFANT - SHAFFER + ERMERSON
Shaffer + Emerson
found the children can have 20+ attachments + all of these people do not regularly feed the child which therefore contradicts the learning theory, suggesting that sensitivity is the most important in forming attachments
Supporting study - Dale Hay + Jo Vespo
They suggest that parents teach children to love them by demonstrating (modelling) attachment behaviours
E.g. hugging
Parents also reinforce loving behavior by showing approval when babies display their own attachment behaviours (e.g. giving attention or cuddles to their parents)
This is shows that behaviour is learnt - not innate