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How can we explain
Attachment?
Two theories prevail that you need to know of.
• Learning theory (behavioural theory)
• Evolutionary theory
• Learning Theory – Explanations which
explain behaviour in terms of learning
rather than any inborn tendencies.
= Nurture
• Evolutionary Theory- behaviour has
adapted through evolution so that
advantageous physical or behavioural
characteristics are more likely to survive.
= Nature
Learning Theory (behaviourism)
•Learning theory very popular in
psychology in early 20th Century.
•Learning theory proposes that all
behaviour is leant and we are born as a
‘blank slate’
•Learning theorists suggest that all learning
including attachment is learnt through
either operant or classical conditioning
Learning Theory
• Question: Why do pet cats show a lot of affection to their owners
when they hear the sound of food being prepared?
Learning Theory
• Lesson Objectives:
• To apply the key terms of classical conditioning to attachment and
understand how children can form an attachment through learning.
• To evaluate the learning theory using animal studies.
Learning Theory - Background
• Learning theories of attachment focus on the rewards provided by
caregivers.
• Question: What type of rewards do caregivers provide their children
with?
•
•
•
•
Food
Comfort
Warmth
Shelter
Classical Conditioning
• Task: While watching the following video, fill in the blanks on your
handout, using the key words provided.
Before conditioning
• In the video, Rover (the dog) is presented with a stimulus – a bell.
When the bell is rung, there is no response in Rover. This is because
dogs are not naturally wired to respond to a bell. Therefore, we call
neutral stimulus
the bell a ________________________.
• When Rover is introduced to the sight of food his natural response is
to salivate. This is a natural/innate reaction so this stimulus is called
unconditioned stimulus and his response is called an
an ________________________
________________________.
unconditioned response
During conditioning
• If we repeatedly ring the bell immediately before presenting Rover
conditioned
with food, he will be ________________________
to respond to the
bell.
After conditioning
• Now Rover will salivate upon hearing the bell even in the absence of
food. This response has been conditioned. It is now a
conditioned response
________________________,
and the bell has become a
conditioned stimulus
________________________.
Classical conditioning – learning through association
To summarise…
1. Before conditioning
2. Before conditioning
3. During conditioning
3. After conditioning
Classical Conditioning & Attachment
Let’s imagine the following:
Pavlov’s dog is now a
baby
The bell is now the
mother
The dog food is now
milk
Classical Conditioning
• Task: In groups, cut out and arrange the pictures and key words
provided to demonstrate the process of classical conditioning in
attachment, using the four stages detailed below.
1. Before conditioning
2. Before conditioning
Happy baby –
relieved from hunger
Unconditioned
stimulus
3. During conditioning
Unconditioned
stimulus
Neutral stimulus
Unconditioned
response
No response
Neutral stimulus
3. After conditioning
Unconditioned
response
Conditioned stimulus
Conditioned
response
1. Before conditioning
2. Before conditioning
Happy baby –
relieved from hunger
Unconditioned
stimulus
3. During conditioning
Unconditioned
stimulus
Neutral stimulus
Unconditioned
response
No response
Neutral stimulus
3. After conditioning
Unconditioned
response
Conditioned stimulus
Conditioned
response
Unconditioned
Stimulus
Unconditioned
Response
Neutral Stimulus
No response
Unconditioned
Stimulus
Neutral Stimulus
Conditioned
Stimulus
Conditioned
Response
Task: Complete the diagram below to
demonstrate the process of classical
conditioning for attachment. Either draw
pictures or write the name of what
should appear in each section.
It’s on the back
of the gap fill
Unconditioned
Response
Unconditioned
Stimulus
Unconditioned
Response
Neutral Stimulus
No response
Unconditioned
Stimulus
Neutral Stimulus
Conditioned
Stimulus
Conditioned
Response
Unconditioned
Response
Classical Conditioning & Attachment
Task: Write a short summary of how children form an attachment
through classical conditioning. Use your diagram to help you.
Hint: Make sure that you relate
your answer to the formation of
an emotional tie/bond between
the mother and child.
Don’t just
conditioning.
outline
classical
Harlow(1959)
• Question: While watching the following video, consider the following
question: Do Harlow’s findings support or refute the learning theory
of attachment, and why?
Harlow (1959)
• Task: Using the information provided on the Harlow (1959) study, write a
burger paragraph evaluating the learning theory of attachment.
Explain
Evidence or
Example
Point
The Burger Technique
One issue with the learning theory of attachment is that there is conflicting
research by Harlow (1959).
Harlow (1959) found…
This matters because…
The Burger Technique
• Task: Swap your completed burger with your partner and assess
whether your partner has written an effective evaluation point.
 Consider the following:
1) Have they explained the results
of Harlow (1959) so that
someone who doesn’t know
this study would understand the
outcome?
2) Have they explained why
Harlow’s research undermines
the learning theory effectively?
Evidence or
Example
One issue with the learning theory of attachment is
that there is conflicting research by Harlow (1959).
Harlow (1959) found that rhesus monkeys who were raised by two artificial
surrogate mothers – one which provided food and one which provided comfort –
spent most of their time cuddled to the soft cloth-covered mother, suggesting
that attachments are based on contact comfort and not food.
Explain
Point
The Burger Technique
This matters because it undermines the learning theory which suggests that babies
form attachments for food, whereas Harlow suggests that attachments form for
comfort and not food.