RECAP – Harlow’s monkeys On your whiteboard… Write out the Aim: Procedure: Findings: Conclusion: Evaluation:

Specification 1 Caregiver-infant interactions in humans: reciprocity and interactional synchrony. Stages of attachment identified by Schaffer Multiple attachments and the role of the father. 2 Animal studies of attachment: Lorenz and Harlow 3 Explanations of attachment: learning theory and Bowlby’s monotropic theory. The concepts of a critical period and an internal working model. 4 Ainsworth’s ‘Strange Situation’. Types of attachment: secure, insecure-avoidant and insecure-resistant. Cultural variations in attachment including van Ijzendoorn. 5 Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation. Romanian orphan studies: effects of institutionalisation. 6 The influence of early attachment on childhood and adult relationships including the role of an internal working model.

Explanations of attachment Learning theory Objectives: To be able to use learning theory to explain attachments To be able to apply classical and operant conditioning as an explanation of attachment

Two explanations of attachment That you need to know Learning Theory – Conditioning Bowlby’s Evolutionary Theory Nurture Nature Your behaviour is based on how you were brought up by the people around you Your behaviour is based on your biology. Your behaviour is a result of innate characteristics

RECAP Discuss with your partner… What is classical conditioning? How could we apply it to attachment?

Classical Conditioning Learning Theory – Classical Conditioning When two things keep happening together, you start to think there is a link. This is called association Classical Conditioning Classical conditioning occurs when a response produced naturally by a certain stimulus, becomes associated with another stimulus that is not normally associated with that particular response.

UCS UCR NS UCS UCR CS CR

being paired with a caregiver (a conditioned stimulus). Task: Write a summary using the following sentences of how attachments form through CC. being paired with a caregiver (a conditioned stimulus). After several paired presentations of caregiver and food, which produces a natural response of pleasure (an unconditioned response), Attachments are learned by the stimulus of food (an unconditioned stimulus) the infant learns to associate pleasure solely with caregiver without any need for food.

Learning Theory – Classical Conditioning Attachments are learned by the stimulus of food (an unconditioned stimulus) which produces a natural response of pleasure (an unconditioned response), being paired with a caregiver (a conditioned stimulus). After several paired presentations of caregiver and food, the infant learns to associate pleasure solely with caregiver without any need for food.

Operant Conditioning - RECAP OC – learning to repeat a behaviour, or not, depending on its consequences. If a behaviour produces a pleasant consequence, that behaviour is likely to be repeated again – it has been reinforced. Unpleasant consequence - less likely to be repeated.

Operant Conditioning - RECAP What happens when a baby cries? How does the caregiver react?

Operant Conditioning - RECAP

Crying is then reinforced if caregiver feeds or comforts infant. Operant Conditioning Operant Conditioning This is about reinforcements of behaviour (rewards) Babies learn to form an attachment through rewards such as – Care giving and Food Crying is then reinforced if caregiver feeds or comforts infant.

Operant Conditioning Hungry infant feels discomfort There is now a drive to reduce this discomfort Food reduces the discomfort, fulfils the drive, and is a reward Food is a primary reinforcer

Operant Conditioning The person feeding the baby is associated with the reward The baby seeks the primary caregiver as they are now a source of rewards

Operant Conditioning Two-way process Baby is reinforced for crying, caregiver receives negative reinforcement because the crying stops (escaping from something unpleasant is reinforcing) Interplay of mutual reinforcement strengthens an attachment

Video Clip of Operant Conditioning The Big Bang Theory example of rewarding positive behaviour http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guroaQRFsX4

Task Complete the gap fill on learning theory…

Answers

Evaluation of the Learning Theory What studies do you already know that we can use? And how? Discuss in pairs

Does Harlow’s moneys support or refute learning theory? Explain your answer.

Evaluation of the Learning Theory Harlow and Harlow (1962) took baby monkeys from their mothers and placed them in a cage with two replacement mothers. One replacement mother was made of wire and provided milk One replacement mother was covered with cloth. It provided comfort, but no milk According to the learning theory, the monkeys should have preferred the wire mother because it provided food. However, they preferred the cloth mother – this falsifies the learning theory

Evaluation of the Learning Theory Schaffer and Emerson (1964) Research with human infants also shows that feeding does not appear to be an important factor in humans. Shaffer and Emerson’s study shows that many babies developed a primary attachment to their biological mother even though other carer did most of the feeding. Why does this study go against the learning theory? These findings are a problem for learning theory as they show that feeding is not the key element to attachment and so there is no unconditioned stimulus or primary drive involved.

PEEL the research! P – There is empirical evidence which falsifies the learning theory. E – Harlow and Harlow conducted a study… E – This falsifies the learning theory because… L – Therefore …

RECAP Outline learning theory as an explanation for attachment (6 marks) Can you think of any limitations? Hint: classical/operant conditioning

Evaluation of the Learning Theory P: learning theory ignores other factors associated with forming attachments E: research into early infant-caregiver interactions suggests the quality of attachment is associated with factors like reciprocity and good levels of interactional synchrony E: Furthermore, studies have shown that the best quality attachments are with sensitive carers that pick up infant signals and respond appropriately L:these findings therefore refute the idea of ‘cupboard love’ as it suggests there is no purpose for these interactions

Exam Question Briefly evaluate learning theory as an explanation of attachment. [4 marks]

Mark it Possible evaluation points: Level Marks Description 2 3-4 Evaluation is relevant, well explained and focused on attachment, rather than generic criticism of learning theory. The answer is generally coherent with effective use of specialist terminology 1 1-2 Evaluation is relevant although there is limited explanation and/or limited focus on attachment. Specialist terminology is not always used appropriately. Award one mark for answers consisting of a single point briefly stated or muddled. No relevant content Possible evaluation points: Strengths: plausible and scientific as founded in established theory, i.e. likely that association between provision of needs and the person providing those needs can lead to strong attachments; reinforcers clearly explained Limitations: reductionist – the focus on basic processes (S-R links, reinforcement) too simplistic to explain complex attachment behaviours; environmentally deterministic such that early learning experiences determines later attachment behaviours; theory founded in animal research and problems of inferring on the basis of animal studies Evidence used to support or refute the explanation: Schaffer and Emerson – more than half of infants were not attached to the person primarily involved in their physical care; Harlow – rhesus monkeys attach for contact comfort rather than food; sensitive responsiveness may be more influential in formed attachments (Ainsworth); infants are active seekers of stimulation, not passive responders (Schaffer) Comparison with alternate explanations, e.g. Bowlby’s theory Methodological evaluation of evidence must be linked to the explanation to gain credit

Discuss the Learning Theory as an explanation of attachment (12 marks) Plan for the full essay AO1 = 6 AO3 = PEEL 1: PEEL 2: PEEL 3: 5 key terms for this essay are… RED, GREEN, PURPLE essay plans available for this question

Learn both animal studies for assessment next week in class. Homework Learn both animal studies for assessment next week in class.

Plenary On your whiteboards… Draw out how babies learn through classical conditioning…

Two explanations of attachment That you need to know Learning Theory – Conditioning Bowlby’s Evolutionary Theory Nurture Nature Your behaviour is based on how you were brought up by the people around you Your behaviour is based on your biology. Your behaviour is a result of innate characteristics - survival