SECTION: Explanations – Learning Theory
TOPIC: Attachment
SIX SENTENCE SUMMARY OF KEY IDEAS (K/U) KEY WORD GLOSSARY
Donald and Miller 1950 – suggested attachment can be explained
trough the learning theory. Classical conditioning
Operant conditioning
1. From the behaviourist approach, the conditioning theories are
Learning theory
used to explain how attachments are formed. The idea that
Primary/secondary drive
infants will attach to whoever feeds them.
Reinforcement/Punishment
Neutral/conditioned stimulus
2. For classical conditioning, food serves as the unconditioned
UN/conditioned Response
stimulus and the pleasure of eating is the unconditioned
Food/Comfort
response. The neutral stimulus is the caregiver (produces no
response) but soon they become associated with food
becoming the conditioned stimulus. When the baby sees the
caregiver, their conditioned response is pleasure/love as they PEEL STRENGTH
expect food.
Weven if the relation between food and
attachment is proven unlikely, conditioning can
3. For operant conditioning if behaviour involves a reward it is
improve understanding of attachment through
more likely to be repeated. When babies cry, they receive
warmth and comfort being associated with a
comfort (reinforcing the crying because comfort is a reward)
particular adult, influencing the choice of
also the caregiver experiences negative reinforcement as the
primary attachment.
baby stops crying. The mutual benefits strengthen attachment.
But this reduces the idea of a two way process,
4. Hunger can be a primary drive for infants therefore the reducing the babies active role in attachment as
secondary drive is an attachment in association with each it describes them simply associating.
other.
PEEL WEAKNESS
There is a lack of support from studies, it
PEEL WEAKNESS
contrasts the ducklings innate move to imprint
In human studies, Schaffer and Emerson observed the babies regardless of food and the monkey’s actions
attached to the mother whether or not they were the main finding comfort without the model that gave
person to give them food. Isabella et al also found interactional food, other explanations than food.
synchrony leads to better attachment quality suggesting the main
factor is not food.
TOPIC: Attachment
SIX SENTENCE SUMMARY OF KEY IDEAS (K/U) KEY WORD GLOSSARY
Donald and Miller 1950 – suggested attachment can be explained
trough the learning theory. Classical conditioning
Operant conditioning
1. From the behaviourist approach, the conditioning theories are
Learning theory
used to explain how attachments are formed. The idea that
Primary/secondary drive
infants will attach to whoever feeds them.
Reinforcement/Punishment
Neutral/conditioned stimulus
2. For classical conditioning, food serves as the unconditioned
UN/conditioned Response
stimulus and the pleasure of eating is the unconditioned
Food/Comfort
response. The neutral stimulus is the caregiver (produces no
response) but soon they become associated with food
becoming the conditioned stimulus. When the baby sees the
caregiver, their conditioned response is pleasure/love as they PEEL STRENGTH
expect food.
Weven if the relation between food and
attachment is proven unlikely, conditioning can
3. For operant conditioning if behaviour involves a reward it is
improve understanding of attachment through
more likely to be repeated. When babies cry, they receive
warmth and comfort being associated with a
comfort (reinforcing the crying because comfort is a reward)
particular adult, influencing the choice of
also the caregiver experiences negative reinforcement as the
primary attachment.
baby stops crying. The mutual benefits strengthen attachment.
But this reduces the idea of a two way process,
4. Hunger can be a primary drive for infants therefore the reducing the babies active role in attachment as
secondary drive is an attachment in association with each it describes them simply associating.
other.
PEEL WEAKNESS
There is a lack of support from studies, it
PEEL WEAKNESS
contrasts the ducklings innate move to imprint
In human studies, Schaffer and Emerson observed the babies regardless of food and the monkey’s actions
attached to the mother whether or not they were the main finding comfort without the model that gave
person to give them food. Isabella et al also found interactional food, other explanations than food.
synchrony leads to better attachment quality suggesting the main
factor is not food.
