Approaches Flashcards
(35 cards)
Behaviourism- Classical conditioning
Learning through association. Behaviour is a consequence of stimulus and response
Behaviourism- Stimulus
Something that causes a response
Behaviourism- Response
A behaviour that results from a stimulus
Behaviourism- Pavlov 1902
Inserted small test tube in dogs cheek to measure the amount of saliva produced.
Food(UCS) - Dog drools (UCR)
Bell (NS) - Dog has no response
Food + bell - Dog drools (UCR)
Bell (CS) - Dog drools (CR)
Behaviourism- Generalisation
When a similar stimulus to the learnt stimulus makes the same response.
Behaviourism- Extinction
When a conditioned pairing decays over time. Conditioned stimuli aren’t permanente unless occasionally paired with UCS
Behaviourism- Timing
The neutral stimulus has to come directly after the conditioned stimulus or paired with it
Behaviourism- Spontaneous recovery
When a conditioned response can be relearnt quickly after a period of time when it had gone extinct
Behaviourism- Operant conditioning
Learning through consequences of behaviour
Behaviourism- **Positive reinforcement **
A good consequence to a behaviour that makes it more likely for that behaviour to be repeated
Behaviourism- Negative reinforcement
A behaviour that leads to an escape from an unpleasant situation that I creases the chance of the behaviour being repeated
Behaviourism- Punishment
A negative consequence to a behaviour that makes it less likely for the person to repeat the behaviour
Behaviourism- Skinner box
Starved rat in box with a food dropper - rat moves to the half with the lever and gets food pellet - only drops when rat is next to the lever -only drops when rat touches lever - only drops when rats paws press the lever
Behaviourism- Strengths
Real life application - phobia treatments (flooding/systematic desensitisation)
Scientific - measurements of behaviour e.g saliva
Behaviourism- Limitations
-Animals/generalisability animals and humans have different learning capabilities plus unethical
-Reductionist because saying humans are like machines, as well as ignoring other factors
Behaviourism- Key assumptions
-Approach only concerned with observable behaviour that can be measured (not internal processes)
-Controlled lab studies to remove bias (objective)
-Animals used as experimental subjects because they are similar to humans
Social learning theory- Key assumptions
-Behaviour is caused by indirect learning; observing and imitating role models
Social learning theory- Vicarious reinforcement
Observing consequences of other people determines whether it is more or less likely for the observer to repeat the behaviour.
Social learning theory- Mediational processes
Internal mental processes involved between observing and imitating
Attention-focusing in it
Retention-coding it into memory
Motor reproduction- the belief it can be copied
Motivation-belief benefits outweigh costs
Social learning theory- Identification
People imitate role models they admire or relate to -(high status, likeable, attract, age, gender)
Social learning theory- Modelling
The person that demonstrates the behaviour to be copied
Social learning theory- Bandura et al (1961)
Lab experiment. Children watched video of aggressive or non-
aggressive adult. Children’s behaviour recorded in room with boho doll
Findings: Hostile acts and novel language, e.g. ‘Pow’, copied of the ones that watched aggressive model
Social learning theory- Bandura and Walters (1963)
Three conditions: Aggressive model praised; aggressive model
punished; aggressive model no consequence.
Imitation depends on consequences. Praised copied most.
Social learning theory- Strengths
-Real life application. Useful in education and prisons. Token economies reinforce people
-Less reductionist. Highlights importance of cognitive factors
