Attachment can be defined as an emotional bond which is formed between two individuals, an infant and its primary caregiver – a tie that binds them together and gradually makes them becomes closer over a period time time." Attachment is not just a connection between two people; it is a bond that involves a craving for regular contact with the primary caregiver and the experience of distress once they are no longer next to eachother. The 4 features of behaviours of attachment are seeking proximity, safe haven, secure base and separation distress.
The Learning theory also known as the behavioural theory of attachment states that during classical conditioning the person who provides the food becomes known for the pleasure of when it is being eaten. The unconditioned stimulus is the process of being fed which fills the infant with pleasure which is the unconditioned response, consequently the primary caregiver who provides the source of food (conditioned stimulus) will now be the source of pleasure for the infant, this is how an attachment bond is formed. Anytime the mother is around the infant she will be known for the food which suggest this is the reason for this attachment in the first place.
In addition, the learning theory is just one explanation of attachment which has some flaws even though the explanation is sufficient and very detailed. Lots of research and evidence has been gathered up and collected, such as that of the Harlow’s monkey study which goes against the learning theory of attachment. This study comprises of a person giving a baby monkey two options. One of those options is to give the baby monkey food which was a wired monkey that had a bottle attached to it, allowing the baby to feed. The other option was to have a wired monkey covered in some type of cloth material to act as comfort to the monkey. If you are to go by what the learning theory