Attachment: Learning theory explanations
Attachment – Behaviourism
Behaviourism can be used to explain attachment, using its two theories of classical and operant conditioning.
Classical conditioning
Classical conditioning is learning through association and so can describe why attachments are formed as they are. The association of food and caregiver is one link that can show attachment. The food will cause a feeling of happiness among a hungry baby. Overtime, by pairing repeatedly the food with the caregiver, the baby will begin to associate the caregiver with that same feeling of happiness and so the caregiver alone will create this feeling of happiness - an attachment is formed.
This does not describe multiple attachments.
In Schaffer and Emerson’s research only 61% of participants showed that the food giver was the main attachment.
This theory could show reductionism as it uses a simple stimulus and response argument to describe complex behaviour – ignores cognitive processes.
The theory is supported by previous experiments and approaches.
Operant Conditioning
Operant conditioning is learning through consequences of actions – punishments and rewards. Attachment can be explained through this theory using negative reinforcement when again considering the link between caregiver and food.
Dollard and Miller (1950) explained learning in terms of drives.
Hunger is a primary drive as it is an innate motivation. Eating acts to satify this drive and so is known as a drive reduction.
The behaviour that the baby demonstrates to portray their hunger is rewarded by the caregiver when food is given. Therefore this primary drive of hunger causes a secondary drive to the caregiver as they provide a positive reward of drive reduction.
Harlow's research suggests that food is not as important as comfort in forming attachments.
Lorenz's geese formed an attachmetn before they had been fed, suggesting it is not solely food that creates attachments – different species may form attachments differently.
In 1991 Gewirtz showed that stronger attachments are formed with responsive mothers.
Reductionism.
Nature argument would say that higher levels of oxytocin in mothers show stronger infant attchment.
