The Learning Theory of Attachment

The Learning Theory of Attachment is the name given to a group of explanations which explain behaviour in terms of learning rather than any other inborn tendencies or higher-order thinking.

Classical Conditioning

Classical conditioning involves learning through association. It proposes that attachments are learnt via stimulus-response.

The process of of classical conditioning is as follows:

An unconditioned response (food) causes an unconditioned response (feeling of pleasure). When the neutral stimulus (mother/caregiver) is introduced during this process, the infant will soon associate the neutral stimulus with the unconditioned response. With repetition. the neutral stimulus (mother/caregiver) will become the conditioned response, and the unconditioned response (feeling of pleasure) will become the conditioned response.

Pavlov's Dogs

Ivan Pavlov looked at classical conditioning in dogs. He noticed that food (unconditioned stimulus) caused the dogs to salivate (unconditioned response). The he began to ring a bell (neutral stimulus) whenever he bought the food out to the dogs, he did this every time he bought the food out. Soon enough he found that even if he only rang the bell, the dogs would still salivate - this was because the dogs had associated the food with the sound of the bell and so they salivate. This means the bell has become the conditioned response and the dogs salivating had become the conditioned response. 

Operant Conditioning

Operant conditioning is where an attachment is learnt via reinforcements or punishments.

The process of operant conditioning is as follows:

Each time you do something and it results in a pleasant consequence, it means that you're more likely to repeat this behaviour in the future, this is a reinforcement. However if you do something and it results in a negative consequence, you're less likely to do this in the future, this means it's a punishment. When an infant is hungry, it has an unpleasant feeling and wants to reduce the discomfort. When the infant is fed, the infant experiences a feeling of pleasure and so the food becomes the primary reinforcer because it reduces the discomfort (rewarding). The caregiver providing the food becomes associated with the feeling of pleasure and so becomes the secondary reinforcer and is soon a reward on its own. An attachment occurs as the infant seeks out the secondary reinforcer in order to get food.

Skinner's box

B.F. Skinner looked at operant conditioning in mice. He placed mice in a box and on one side of the box there was and empty food bowl with a lever next to it. As the mice explored the box, they found that if they pressed the lever then food would drop into the food bowl and they would feed, providing comfort for the mice. This meant the food was the primary reinforcer as it provided the direct pleasure, and the lever became the secondary reinforcer as it was required in order to supply the food.

Evaluation of The Learning Theory of Attachment

• Experiments support this theory: Palov's dogs, Skinner's box, etc...
• Harlow & Harlow's monkey's - An experiment was conducted on monkeys to see whether they would become more attached to a metal pole with cloth attached to it or a metal pole that provided them with food. It was found that the monkeys spent more time with the 'cloth mother' than the 'food mother'. This doesn't support the learning theory of attachments as the monkeys preferred the cloth mother, whereas the learning theory would suggest that they would prefer the food mother as food provides the comfort.
• Schaffer and Emerson - Two psychologists observed 60 infants in mainly working-class homes in Glasgow for over a year. They found that the infants because more attached to the person who was more emotionally responsive towards it, rather that the person who fed them. This doesn't support the learning theory as it shows that the infant prefers attention over food.