Discuss one or more explanation of attachment. (12 marks)

One explanation of attachment is the Learning theory. The learning theory proposes that all behavior is learned rather than inborn. This means when a child is born they learn a certain thing over time rather than being born with it. The leaning theory, put forward by behaviourists who prefer to focus their explanations solely on behaviour, tells us what people do rather than what may or may not being going on in their minds. They also suggest that all behavior, including attachment, is learned through either classical or operant conditioning. According to Ivan Pavlov ‘learning is a conditioned reflex also known as classical conditioning. The learning theory states that when an infant is hungry, milk (unconditioned stimulus) naturally produces a sense of pleasure (unconditioned response). The person who feeds the infant (conditioned stimulus) becomes associated with the food thus an association between the feeder and the pleasure produced when the infant’s hunger is satisfied (conditioned response), creating a stimulus-response (S-R) link. This new association is the attachment bond. However according to Skinner ‘learning is due to the kind of reinforcing response our actions produce’ also known as operant conditioning. Dollard and Miller’s theory of attachment suggests that infant’s naturally seek to reduce their discomfort of hunger. Feeding satisfies this need and thus the child learns to repeat this behaviour whenever they are hungry. Thus food is the primary reinforce, the person who supplies the food is associated with the reduction in hunger. So attachment occurs because the child seeks the person who can supply this reward. Thus the primary caregiver or ‘feeder’ is the secondary reinforce. The learning theory may not provide a complete explanation of attachment but it still has value. Infants do