Learning theory in attachment

Dollard and Miller (1950) proposed that caregiver-infant attachment can be explained by learning theory. Their approach is sometimes referred to as __________ approach because it emphasizes the role of the attachment figure as the provider of food.

• Cupboard love

• Closet love

• Food love

• Fridge love

According to Dollard and Miller (1950) children can learn to love whoever feeds them.

• true

• false

In the case of attachment _______ serves as an unconditional stimulus

Being fed gives us pleasure- we don’t have to learn that so it is an unconditioned _______.

The caregiver starts off as the

• conditioned response

• conditioned stimulus

• unconditioned response

• Neutral stimulus

To a learning theorist, this conditioned response is __________i.e. an attachment is formed and the caregiver becomes an attachment figure.

• Food

• Warmth

• Love

• Attention

Crying leads to a response from the caregiver, for example feeding. As long as the caregiver provides the correct response, crying is ________.

• Punished

• Reinforced

At the same time as the baby is reinforced for crying, the caregiver receives _____________ reinforcement because the crying stops- escaping from something unpleasant is reinforcing.

• Positive

• Negative

• Neutral

This reinforcement between mother and child is a __________process.

• Long

• Short

• Two-way

• confusing

If a behaviour produces a pleasant consequence, that behaviour is likely to be repeated again- so we call this ___________

• Punishment

• reinforcement