Explanations of attachment: Learning theory -A-Level Psychology
Classical conditioning-Learning through Association, a neutral stimulus is consistently paired with an unconditioned stimulus so that eventually it is able to produce a conditioned response.
Learning theory- the name given to a group of explanations which explain behaviour in terms of learning rather than any inborn tendencies or higher order thinking.
Operant conditioning- learning through reinforcement
Social learning theory-learning through observing others and imitating behaviours that are rewarded.
Learning theory of attachment:
-suggests that all behaviour is learnt rather than inborn and that children are born as ‘blank slates’ and that they are shaped by their experiences.
Classical conditioning:(Ivan Pavlov)
-When an infant is a few weeks/months old certain things become associated with food,because they are present when the infant is fed e.g sounds,infant’s months(neutral stimuli).
-The NS is consistently associated with a UCS and takes on the properties of the UCS to produce the same response.The NS is now a CS and produces a CR.
-In this case the person who feeds the child is the NS which becomes the CS and gives the infant happiness(CR).
Operant conditioning:(B.F. Skinner)
-Dollard and Neal MIller(1950) offered an explanation of attachment based on operant conditioning and drive reduction theory.
-A ‘drive’ is something that motivates behaviour e.g the infant is hungry and there is a drive to reduce the discomfort.
-When an infant is fed the drive is reduced and they are rewarded through negative reinforcement(escaping something unpleasant).
–Food is seen as the primary reinforcer.Through the process of classical conditioning the person supplying the food becomes associated with avoiding discomfort(secondary reinforcer).
– Attachment occurs because the child seeks the person who can supply the reward.
Social learning theory:(Albert Bandura)
-Dole Hay and Jo Vespo(1988) suggested that modelling could be used to explain attachment behaviours.They said that children observe their parents affectionate behaviour and then imitate this. Parents would also deliberately instruct their children about how to behave in relationships and reward appropriate attachment behaviours such as giving kisses and hugs.
Evaluation:
Learning theories based on research with animals- Skinner’s research involved pigeons. Behaviourists believe that behaviour patterns are constructed from the same stimulus and responses so that results from animal studies can be generalized to human behaviour. Complex behaviours such as attachment can’t be explained and are harder to generalise.Some argue that attachment involves innate predispositions that can’t be explained by conditioning.Behaviorist explanations lack validity because they present an over simplified version of human behaviour.
Contact comfort is more important than food-the learning theory suggests that food is the key element involved in attachment but in other studies this is not the case.In Harlow’s study attachment depended on contact comfort and not food.
Drive reduction is ignored today- it has been rejected because there are many things that people do that have no effect in reducing discomfort.Some people enjoy bungee jumping which increases discomfort. It does not explain sufficiently how secondary reinforcers work ,they do not directly reduce discomfort yet they are reinforcing.
Alternative explanations-Bowlby’s theory explains why attachments form whereas the learning theory only suggests how they might form. Bowlby’s Theory has a better explanation on attachment and it explains the advantages of attachment such as protection from harm.This suggests that attachment evolved as a behaviour which would enhance survival.
Attachment theory is a psychological theory that explains how infants and children develop emotional bonds with their primary caregivers. This theory proposes that a child’s attachment style is influenced by their early experiences with their caregiver.
Learning theory is a psychological theory that explains how behaviors are learned and acquired through conditioning. In relation to attachment, learning theory explains how an infant’s attachment to their caregiver can be learned through the processes of classical and operant conditioning.
Some key behaviorists associated with learning theory explanations of attachment include B.F. Skinner and Albert Bandura.
Classical conditioning proposes that attachment is learned through the association of a caregiver with a primary need, such as hunger or comfort. When the caregiver satisfies the infant’s need, the infant learns to associate the caregiver with the satisfaction of that need, leading to the development of an emotional bond.
Operant conditioning proposes that attachment is learned through the reinforcement of attachment behaviors, such as seeking comfort from the caregiver. When the caregiver provides comfort or attention in response to these behaviors, the infant learns that these behaviors lead to positive outcomes, reinforcing the attachment bond.
Some strengths of learning theory explanations of attachment include their ability to provide a clear and testable explanation for attachment and their emphasis on the role of environmental factors in shaping attachment. However, some weaknesses include their lack of emphasis on the role of innate factors in attachment and their oversimplification of the complex nature of attachment relationships.
Learning theory explanations of attachment focus on the role of environmental factors in shaping attachment, while evolutionary theory emphasizes the role of innate factors and natural selection in shaping attachment behaviors. Evolutionary theory proposes that attachment behaviors evolved because they increased the chances of infant survival, while learning theory explains attachment as a learned response to environmental cues.
Learning theory explanations of attachment can be applied in real-life situations, such as in parenting and childcare practices. For example, caregivers can use reinforcement techniques to encourage attachment behaviors and strengthen attachment bonds with infants and children. Understanding learning theory explanations of attachment can also help caregivers identify and address potential attachment problems or disruptions.
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