Classical conditioning: a learning theory of attachments

BEFORE CONDITIONING:

Food = UCS (unconditioned stimulus)

Dog drools = UCR (unconditioned response)

•Learning theories are an alternative to evolutionary theories of attachment.

•Whereas evolutionary theories say we are INNATELY programmed to form attachments, learning theories say we have to LEARN to attach – and we do so because of FOOD.

Bell = NS (neutral stimulus)

Dog does not respond (no innate response to the sound of the bell)

TERMS TO KNOW!

STIMULUS = an event that causes a response

RESPONSE = an action made because a stimulus is detected

INNATE = instinctive/inborn

CONDITIONED = learned

Ivan Pavlov demonstrated the process of classical conditioning in dogs.

We need to understand this process so we can apply it to attachments.

Classical conditioning: a learning theory of attachments

THE PROCESS OF CONDITIONING:

Food = UCS (unconditioned stimulus)

Dog drools = UCR (unconditioned response)

Bell = NS (neutral stimulus)

Dog drools = CR (conditioned response to the bell)

STEP1

STEP2

STEP3

+Food = UCS (unconditioned stimulus)

Bell = CS (conditioned stimulus)

Dog drools = UCR (unconditioned response)

Classical conditioning: a learning theory of attachments

BEFORE CLASSICAL CONDITIONING:

Food = UCS (unconditioned stimulus)

Baby feels pleasure = UCR (unconditioned response to food)

Mother = NS (neutral stimulus)

Baby does not respond (no innate response to the mother)

As these pictures show, the baby is not born with an attachment to his mother. However, his mother is there each time he is fed.Can you use your knowledge and understanding of classical conditioning to suggest how an attachment to the mother is formed?

Classical conditioning: a learning theory of attachments

THE PROCESS OF CONDITIONING:

Food = UCS (unconditioned stimulus)

Baby feels pleasure = UCR (unconditioned response to food)

Mother = NS (neutral stimulus)

Baby feels pleasure = CR (conditioned response to mother)

STEP1

STEP2

STEP3

+Food = UCS (unconditioned stimulus)

Mother = CS (conditioned stimulus)

Baby feels pleasure = UCR (unconditioned response to food)

Classical conditioning: a learning theory of attachments

According to learning theory, the baby has to ……. to form an attachment with his mother.

By the process of ……. conditioning, the baby forms an ……. between the mother (a …… stimulus) and the feeling of pleasure that comes from being fed (an ……, unconditioned response).

At first, the baby simply feels comforted by ……. However each time he is fed, the …… is there too. He quickly associates the mother with the …… of being fed.

Before long, the mother …… a feeling of …… on her own, even without food.

This means the baby feels …… when the mother is near. It is the beginning of …….

Copy the passage above, and fill the gaps using the words below. Some words will be used more than once.

ASSOCIATION * ATTACHMENT * CLASSICAL * PLEASURE * FOOD HAPPIER * INNATE * LEARN * MOTHER * NEUTRAL * STIMULATES