Approaches Flashcards
Behaviourism assumptions (5)
- behaviourists study observable, measureable behaviour
- behaviourists do not study underlying internal mental processes
- processes that govern learning are the same in all species
- use of animals in species
behaviourism
classical conditioning
- overview, and types of conditions
- various conditions create emotions and responses:
- learning through association
- unconditioned stimulus
- creates unconditioned response
- neutral stimulus present but doesn’t cause response
- conditioned stimulus (what originally was NS)
- creates conditioned response (UCS does not need to be present)
behaviourism
what is stimulus generalisation?
when someone becomes scared of more than just the stimulus
eg if you become scared of lighting you could also become scared of bright lights
behaviourism
operant conditioning
overview and types of reinforcement
-behaviour is shaped by its consequences
- positive reinforcement: giving a reward
- negative reinforcement: taking away something unpleasant
- punishment: an unpleasant consequence
behaviourism
classical conditioning - Pavlov’s research
UCS: food
UCR: salivation
NS: bell
CS: bell
CR: salivation
this research shows that a neutral stimulus can elicit a learned response through association
behaviourism
extinction in both classical and operant conditioning
- disappearance of learnt behaviour when:
CC - conditioned stimulus repeated without UCS
OC - behaviour never reinforced with rewards / consequences
behaviourism
schedules of reinforcement - operant conditioning
changing frequency and predictability of reinforcement
- continuous - reinforcement every time
- variable ratio - reinforcement sometimes
behaviourism evaluation
- scientific credibility led to psychology being more trusted
- objectivity - being free of bias due to personal opinions or experience
- replication - opportunity to repeat an investigation under the same conditions
social learning theory
assumptions
- behaviour is learnt from experience through:
- observation and imitation of other peoples behaviours and experiences
- indirectly affected by other people’s experience
- not directly reinforced
social learning key terms
- imitation
- identification
- modelling
- vicarious reinforcement
- mediational processes
imitation - copying the behaviour of yours
identification - when an observer associates themselves with a role model and wants to be like the role model
modelling - imitating the behaviour of a role model.
vicarious reinforcement - reinforcement that is not directly experienced but is observed happening to someone else
mediational processes - cognitive factors that influence learning and come between stimulus and response
social learning
Bobo doll experiment
Bandura 1961
procedure:
let children watch adults behaviour towards the doll and then observed the childrens behaviour towards the doll
control: adults were aggressive towards doll.
condition 1: adults aggressive towards doll. adults praised for behaviour. (positive reinforcement)
condition 2: adults aggressive towards doll. adults punished for behaviour
results:
children imitated aggressive behaviour most in condition 1, then control, then condition 2.
social learning evaluation
social learning says ‘nurture’ drives behaviour
- this doesn’t explain why people are naturally different
social learning and cultural differences
slt can explain cultural differences in behaviour
- cultural norms passed from adult to child through media and peers
social learning
bandura and reciprocal determinism
bandura said that we are not just determined by our environment, but we have an influence on it too.
this suggests we have free will.
cognitive approach
assumptions
- behaviourist explanation is not enough to explain behaviour
- there are internal mental processes between stimulus and response which affect behaviour
- internal mental processes can’t be studied directly so inferences are necessary
