Learning theory
- 1. Attachment Use all of the key words below to create a definition of attachment Emotional Protecting Definition: •An emotional bond between 2 people Endures bond •2 way process that endures over time •Serves the function of protecting the child 2 people child
- 2. Objectives Define the term attachment Identify key words associated with the Learning Theory of attachment Provide basic evaluation for the Learning Theory Apply exam board assessment objectives to stimulus material Write an exam style answer for the Learning Theory of attachment
- 3. Explanations of Attachment You need to know 2 explanations of attachment Learning Theory Bowlby’s Theory Attachment is Attachment is learned innate
- 4. A01 The Learning Theory – Miller & Dollard Everyone is born as a blank slate Behaviour is learned and Infant becomes therefore nurture rather than attached because they nature ‘learn’ that the caregiver will meet their physiological needs Classical (food) Association conditioning
- 5. Classical Conditioning A01 Learning Babies love food – through FACT association The learning theory suggests they will love their feeder as well… Babies learn to associate the person who feeds them with the pleasure of being fed Ivan Pavlov was the first Psychologist to describe learning through classical conditioning. All behaviour is learnt through association
- 6. A01 Pavlov’s Dogs (You need to be aware of the theory, not exactly how Pavlov trained his dogs!) BEFORE CONDITIONING... Unconditioned stimulus produces Unconditioned response (UCS) (UCR) e.g. Dog food e.g. Salivation DURING CONDITIONING... Unconditioned stimulus Neutral stimulus Unconditioned response (UCS) (NS) (UCR) e.g. Dog food e.g. Door bell e.g. Salivation AFTER CONDITIONING... Conditioned stimulus produces Conditioned response (CS) (CR) e.g. Door bell e.g. Salivation
- 7. A01 Attachment through classical conditioning BEFORE CONDITIONING... Unconditioned stimulus produces Unconditioned response (UCS) (UCR) e.g. Food e.g. Pleasure DURING CONDITIONING... Unconditioned stimulus Neutral stimulus Unconditioned response (UCS) (NS) (UCR) e.g. Food e.g. Caregiver e.g. Pleasure AFTER CONDITIONING... Conditioned stimulus produces Conditioned response (CS) (CR) e.g. Caregiver e.g. Pleasure
- 8. A02 Learning Theory – Evaluation Positive Adequate The learning Explanation theory makes sense There’s evidence to suggest we learn other behaviours by classical conditioning – why not attachment? What other behaviours might we learn through association?
- 9. A02 Learning Theory – Evaluation Negative Shaffer & Emerson Found that the first (1964) attachments formed by 39% of babies were not to the person who fed and Why is that changed them – they negative attached to those criticism?! who played with them
- 10. Learning Theory – Evaluation Negative A02
- 11. A02 Learning Theory – Evaluation Negative Found that rhesus Harlow (1959) monkey who were There is a separated from their HUGE problem with after birth and mothers Harlow’s research – in a cage were placed with ‘wire’ mothers went What is it? Why is that to the ‘mother’ who negative offered comfort rather criticism?! then food
- 12. Learning Theory – Evaluation Negative A02
- 13. A02 Learning Theory – Evaluation Negative Lorenz (1952) Lorenz found that newly hatched goose (after seeing Lorenz shortly after hatching) following him everywhere and he Why is that became their ‘imprinted Negative parent’ criticism?!
- 14. Learning Theory – Evaluation (top and tail) e.g. Harlow found that rhesus monkey who were separated e.g. We acquire many from their mothers after birth other behaviours through and were placed in a cage with learning, such as phobias ‘wire’ mothers went to the ‘mother’ who offered comfort rather then food e.g. Shaffer & Emerson found e.g. Lorenz found that newly that the first attachments hatched goose (after seeing formed by 39% of babies Lorenz shortly after hatching) were not to the person following him everywhere and who fed and changed them he became their ‘imprinted – they attached to those parent’ who played with them
- 15. Exam style questions Have a go at answering the following question – Why? So you know how to answer in the exam! 1. Outline the behavioural explanation of attachment formation. (4 marks)
- 16. Exam style questions Have a go at marking the following question – Why? So you can view the answer from the examiners perspective! 2. Outline two weaknesses of the learning theory explanation of attachment. (2 + 2 marks) 2 One weakness of the learning theory of attachment is that it doesn’t explain why babies attached to people who do not feed them. For example, Shaffer and Emerson found that 39% of babies attached with those who played with them and not who fed them. This is a weakness because it demonstrates that food is not the only reason that babies will form an attachment, going against the learning theory. 0 A second point is that the theory makes sense. For example, we learn lots of behaviours through association so it makes sense that children might learn to attach. This is a strength as it adds validity to the learning theory explanation of attachment
- 17. In pairs write at least 15 key Key words words that link to the Learning Theory of Attachment Glossary • Attachment – A 2 way emotional bond between 2 people that endures • Learning Theory – Attachment is learned (Miller & Dollard) • Classical conditioning – Learning through association • UCS – Unconditioned stimulus • NS – Neutral stimulus • UCR – Unconditioned response • CR – Conditioned response • CS – Conditioned stimulus • Harlow – Monkeys given ‘wire mothers’ • Lorenz – Geese (imprinting theory) • Shaffer & Emerson – 39% don’t attach to person who feeds
- 18. Objectives Define the term attachment Identify key words associated with the Learning Theory of attachment Provide basic evaluation for the Learning Theory Apply exam board assessment objectives to stimulus material Write an exam style answer for the Learning Theory of attachment