Child Attachment and Learning Theory

Introduction

• Discussion on how children form attachments with their mothers.
• Focus on the first explanation: Learning Theory based on behaviorist principles.

Learning Theory of Attachment

• Cupboard Love: Emphasizes the caregiver as the provider of food.
  • Attachment forms because the child loves the mother's milk.

Behaviorism Recap

• Humans are born as blank slates.
• Behavior is shaped by environmental factors and learned.
• Two Learning Processes:
  • Classical Conditioning
  • Operant Conditioning

Classical Conditioning

• Concept: Learning through association (stimulus and response).
• Application to Attachment:
  • Food (milk) is the unconditioned stimulus.
  • Mother is the neutral stimulus (initially no response).
  • Pairing food with mother makes the mother a conditioned stimulus.
  • Baby forms attachment as mother provides food.

Operant Conditioning

• Concept: Learning through consequences (rewards and punishments).
  • Positive Reinforcement: Adds something to strengthen behavior.
  • Negative Reinforcement: Removes something to strengthen behavior.
• Application to Attachment:
  • Positive reinforcement: Baby receives food (primary reinforcer) and associates mother (secondary reinforcer) with food.
  • Negative reinforcement: Relief from hunger reinforces attachment.

Evaluation of Learning Theory

Strengths

• Based on well-researched behaviorism principles.
• BS Skinner's Work: Operant conditioning in controlled settings.
• Provides a clear, straightforward explanation of attachment through environmental factors.

Limitations

• Schaffer and Emerson's Study (1964):
  • Attachment not solely based on feeding but on interaction and sensitivity.
• Harlow’s Research:
  • Rhesus monkeys preferred contact comfort over food.
  • Challenges "cupboard love" as primary attachment driver.
• Biological Factors Ignored:
  • Bolby's Monotropic Theory focuses on innate factors.
  • Interactional synchrony research by Isabella Ramble (1991).
• Environmental Reductionism Critique:
  • Oversimplifies attachment to stimulus-response models.
  • Neglects complexity of social behaviors involving high interaction.

Conclusion

• Learning theory has limitations in explaining attachment due to environmental reductionism.
• Introduction to John Bowlby’s biological perspective on attachment, informed by animal studies.
• Suggestion to explore Bowlby's theory further for a more comprehensive understanding.