Learning Theory of attachment

... An attachment is a close emotional bond with another person, a close fondness or love for that person and a desire to spend time with that person. One prominent theory of attachment in the study of human attachment is the learning theory, put forward by behavioural psychologists such as Ivan Pavlov. Learning theory and the psychodynamic approach are called the 'cupboard love' theories of attachment in psychology. The basic principle of the learning theory is that all behaviour is learned as a result of either classical or operant conditioning. Classical conditioning, developed by Ivan Pavlov, suggests that there is always an innate reflex to an external stimulus. Pavlov studied classical conditioning in dogs by carrying out an experiment where a bell was sounded in the presence of dogs just before food was presented. This was done so that the dogs would associate the sound of the bell with the presentation

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