Attachment - The Learning Theory

The Learning Theory states we learn to attach by association. We associate stimuli with our automatic responses

The Learning Theory stages

1) Baby is fed by the mother.
2) Baby associates the pleasure of being fed to the mother.
3) The mother begins to stimulate pleasure even without food.
4) The baby feels happy when the mother is around and the attachment has begun.

Operant conditioning 

Positive reinforcement = reward
Negative reinforcement = removing something negative

This is the drive reduction. 

Food = primary reinforcer
Mother = secondary reinforcer

Evaluation

- Food may not be the main reinforcer, could be the responsiveness of the caregiver.
- Criticised for being reductionist.
- Ignores the evolutionary theory.
- Harlow's monkeys developed attachments to cloth mother over food.
- Schaffer and Emerson showed that infants formed attachments with people due to their sensitivity to the individual's needs.

+ Skinner's animals in cages supported operant conditioning when animals pressed lever for food.