Approaches Flashcards
What does tabula rasa mean?
That we are born with a blank slate so no knowledge, suggesting that we are a product of the things we learn
What is the only thing that the learning approach focuses on?
Observable external factors that influence behaviour
Who did work on the learning approach?
Watson, Pavlov, and Skinner
According to the learning approach, what are the 3 ways we learn behaviour?
Learning through consequences
Learning through imitation
Learning through association
What is learning through association also referred to as?
Classical conditioning
Who studied classical conditioning?
Ivan Pavlov
What is classical conditioning also known as?
Reflexive learning
Briefly outline Pavlov’s study on classical conditioning
Stage 1: Before UCS = Dog food UCR = Dog salivation Stage 2: during (the contingency pairing) NS = Bell ringing + UCS = UCR Stage 3: After CS (Bell ringing) = CR(Dog salivating)
Write a summary to explain how classical conditioning is applied to explain the process of attachment
Classical conditioning is defined as learning through association and often involves the pairing of two stimuli. According to the learning theory of attachment, attachment is formed when the infant associates the caregiver (who is the person providing the food), with the pleasure gained from food.
What is learning through consequences also known as?
Operant conditioning
Who did a study on operant conditioning?
Skinner
Define positive reinforcement
Increasing the frequency of the behaviour by giving pleasant consequences
Explain how positive reinforcement was shown in Skinner’s study
Skinner took a rat and in its cage, a lever it can press. The lever is rigged up to a mechanism that dispenses food, so when the rat presses the lever it gets a bit of food. Sooner or later, the rat will press the lever by accident and some food will appear. The rat may or may not connect the appearance of the food with the pressing of the lever, but after a few similar occurrences it will. It will then start pressing the lever in order to obtain food. So, the presentation of food acted as a positive reinforcement for the behaviour of lever pressing.
Define negative reinforcement
The effect of increasing the frequency of a behaviour by using consequences that are pleasant when they stop
Explain how negative reinforcement was demonstrated in Skinner’s study
Skinner sets up the cage so that the floor can be electrified and alters the mechanism so that the lever now switches off the current. Once Skinner electrifies the floor of the cage the rat will start bouncing about and will probably accidentally hit the lever. This will turn off the electric current. Eventually, the rat will learn to press the lever immediately when the current is turned on. However, this was not a positive reinforcement, as Skinner was not rewarding the rat with something it liked. Rather, reinforcing it by taking away something it didn’t like
Define punishment
The effect of decreasing the frequency of a behaviour by using consequences that are unpleasant when they happen.
Explain how Skinner’s study demonstrated punishment
Skinner changes the mechanism so that when it presses the lever, instead of receiving a food pellet it is given an electric shock to its paw. Very quickly, the rat will stop pressing the lever. The electric shock has acted as a punishment which had the effect of weakening then extinguishing the lever pressing behaviour.
Define primary reinforcers
Occurs naturally without having to make an effort, they don’t require learning and are often biologically important
Give an example of a primary reinforcer
Food, sleep, water, air, sex
Define secondary reinforcers
Are paired with primary reinforces, but usually mean little alone
What is learning through ‘imitation’ also known as?
Social learning theory
Who did research into the social learning theory?
Albert Bandura
What are the 4 key terms used in the social learning theory?
- Imitation
- Identification
- Modelling
- Vicarious reinforcement
Define imitation
When an individual observes a behaviour from a role model and copies it
Define identification
When an individual is influenced by another because they are similar in some way or wish to be like them
Define modelling
An influential person is known as a model. When an individual imitates that model it is called modelling
Define vicarious reinforcement/punishment
What consequences the person sees the model receiving punishment or reward will influence whether or not they will imitate the behaviour
What are the 4 key cognitive elements that are also considered within the social learning theory?
Attention
Retention
Reproduction
Motivation
What is the relevance of attention to the social learning theory?
Factors that influence whether a learner pays attention to a role model. These may include the learner’s interpretation of the role model’s power, attractiveness and similarity
What is the relevance of retention to learning through imitation?
Factors that influence whether a learner identifies with a role model and remembers the behaviours their role model produces. These include the appropriateness of the behaviour to the role model