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How We Learn to Love: Attachment and Conditioning

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Theodora Li

25/07/2022

Psychology

Explanations of attachment: Learning theory

How We Learn to Love: Attachment and Conditioning

Classical and operant conditioning in attachment formation explains how infants develop bonds through learning experiences, though significant limitations exist in this theoretical framework.

  • Learning theory suggests attachment develops through both classical and operant conditioning processes where caregivers become associated with food and comfort
  • The role of conditioning in caregiver-infant attachment involves primary drives like hunger becoming linked to secondary drives involving the caregiver
  • Research highlights significant limitations of learning theory in attachment, including evidence from animal studies and the importance of active infant participation
  • Studies demonstrate that feeding alone doesn't determine attachment formation, with factors like interactional synchrony playing crucial roles
  • Modern attachment research emphasizes the complexity of attachment formation beyond simple conditioning principles
...

25/07/2022

485

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Psychology

485

25 Jul 2022

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How We Learn to Love: Attachment and Conditioning

Classical and operant conditioning in attachment formation explains how infants develop bonds through learning experiences, though significant limitations exist in this theoretical framework.

  • Learning theory suggests attachment develops through both classical and operant conditioningprocesses where caregivers become associated with... Show more
Explanations of attachment: Learning theory
KNOWLEDGE
CLASSICAL CONDITIONING:
When caregiver provides food over time → association
O Baby: e

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Learning Theory Explanations of Attachment

Learning theory proposes two main mechanisms for attachment formation: classical and operant conditioning. This comprehensive explanation details how infants develop emotional bonds with their caregivers through learning experiences.

Definition: Classical conditioning occurs when a neutral stimulus (caregiver) becomes associated with an unconditioned stimulus (food), leading to a conditioned response (pleasure/attachment).

Example: When a caregiver consistently provides food, the baby begins to associate the caregiver's presence with the pleasure of feeding, eventually developing an emotional attachment.

Vocabulary: Secondary drive refers to learned motivations that develop through association with primary drives (like hunger).

Highlight: Sears et al. (1957) proposed that attachment develops as a secondary drive when caregivers satisfy primary biological needs.

The theory faces several significant limitations:

  1. Counter-evidence from animal studies, including Lorenz's geese and Harlow's monkeys, demonstrates that feeding isn't the primary factor in attachment formation.

  2. Human studies by Schaffer and Emerson (1964) show babies often form primary attachments to non-feeding caregivers.

  3. Research by Isabella et al. (1989) emphasizes the importance of interactional synchrony over feeding in attachment quality.

Quote: "Best quality attachments: sensitive carers pick up infant signals and respond appropriately" - highlighting the complexity beyond simple conditioning.

The theory's main strength lies in explaining some aspects of attachment formation, particularly how babies might associate comfort with specific caregivers, but fails to account for the full complexity of attachment relationships.

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Thomas R

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Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.

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This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.

David K

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The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!

Sudenaz Ocak

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Greenlight Bonnie

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very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.

Rohan U

Android user

I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.

Xander S

iOS user

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Elisha

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This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now

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