Learning Theory of Attachment (AQA A Level Psychology)

Learning theory: classical & operant conditioning

• Learning theory is a set of explanations which help to understand behaviour in terms of:

  • learning via experience and consequences

  • learning theories do not include innate traits as a factor in behaviour

• Learning theory suggests that:

  • children are born as 'blank slates'

  • experience is key to learning

  • observable behaviours can be measured and used to understand people

  • children attach to a caregiver because the caregiver is the provider of food

• Learning theory is split into two explanations

  • Classical conditioning

  • Operant conditioning

Classical conditioning

• Classical conditioning is learning that is developed through the association of stimuli

• An unconditioned stimulus-response, food (in the case of attachment), produces an unconditioned response

  • Food is the unconditioned stimulus (UCS)

  • Salivation is the unconditioned response (UCR)

    • i.e. animals and people do not have to learn to feel hunger or to salivate at the sight/smell of food (this is known as a reflex action)

• Classical conditioning in terms of attachment is known as 'cupboard love' theory

  • The caregiver starts as the neutral stimulus (NS)

  • Food is the UCS

  • The baby's response (e.g. smiling, crying, banging their high-chair tray) is the UCR

  • As a caregiver provides food, over time, they become associated with food

    • The NS is paired with UCS

  • The baby expects food when they see their caregiver

    • The baby emits their usual response (e.g. smiling, crying, banging their high-chair tray)

  • Thus the NS has become a conditioned stimulus (CS) which is met with the baby's conditioned response (CR)

Operant conditioning

• Operant conditioning is learning from a consequence of a behaviour

  • If the behaviour produces a pleasant consequence the behaviour will be repeated, i.e. it is reinforced

  • If the behaviour produces a negative consequence (punishment) the behaviour is less likely to be repeated

• Example:

  • A baby is fed and feels pleasure (reward)

  • The behaviour that led to the baby being fed is likely to be repeated by the behaviour e.g. crying

  • The food reinforces the behaviour

  • The caregiver associated with the food is also a reinforcer (mutual reinforcement)

    • This is an example of negative reinforcement as the crying stops, the baby is escaping from something unpleasant

  • Attachment to the caregiver occurs because the baby is seeking the reward (supplied by the person)

Evaluation

Strengths

• Learning theory can explain some parts of attachment in infants to a caregiver

  • Even though food may not be the main factor in attachment forming, it is clear that infants form an association with other factors (such as comfort, soothing, and nurture) with a caregiver

  • Infants may form stronger attachments to particular caregivers who offer responsiveness and attention; the infant may become conditioned to this care and therefore attachments are formed

  • These factors are not part of learning theory but the idea of an infant can associate factors (but not food) with particular caregivers helps in explaining attachment

Limitations

• Animal studies contradict the learning theory of attachment

  • Harlow's research (1959) with rhesus monkeys found that monkeys attached to a cloth 'mother' (made from wire) when food was provided by another source (the plain wire mother)

  • This suggests that other factors are important in forming an attachment rather than an association with food

• Studies with human babies provide counter-evidence to the learning theory of attachment

  • Schaffer and Emerson (1964) found that babies formed their primary attachment to their mother despite the mother not being the caregiver who usually fed them

  • Interactional synchrony and reciprocity are considered the foundations for building an attachment between caregiver and infant (Isabella et al. 1989)

  • These studies and evidence suggest that food is not the main factor in attachments forming between an infant and their caregiver