Approaches (general) Flashcards
How does the social learning theory suggest behaviour is learnt?
Indirectly through observation of others’ behaviour and its consequences
What conditions have to be met for a person to imitate observed behaviour, according to SLT?
The person has to identify with the role model, and the consequences of the model’s behaviour must be positive
Describe Bandura et al’s ‘bobo doll’ study.
Young children watched a video of an adult acting in a physically and verbally aggressive way towards a doll. The children were then allowed to play with some toys, including the same doll. Children who had watched the video acted more aggressively towards the doll than those who had not. This is evidence of imitation, part of SLT.
Describe Bandura and Walters’ ‘bobo doll’ study variation.
Young children watched a video of an adult acting in a physically and verbally aggressive way towards a doll. In the first condition, the adult was praised for their behaviour, in the second, the adult was punished, and in the third there was no consequence. When given their own bobo doll to play with, the first group showed the most aggression, followed by the third, and then the second. This shows how consequences are important in imitation.
What are criticisms of the bobo doll study?
It is suggested that because the main purpose of a bobo doll is to be hit, the children may have simply been acting as they thought was expected. Also, as the study was carried out in a lab, this may have given way to demand characteristics, as well as lacking external validity. In addition, the gentle nature of the aggressive behaviour may not prove the children would be aggressive in real life; hitting a doll is completely different from hitting a person.
How can findings from the SLT be applied to real life?
It gives evidence to encourage parents/celebrities to be good role models for impressionable children. It highlights the importance of discouraging children to watch violent films/play violent video games.
What factor does the SLT fail to incorporate?
Biological factors. In the bobo doll study, it was found that boys were more aggressive than girls, but this was not explained by SLT. The difference in aggression may be to do with hormones, in particular testosterone.
What does the cognitive approach study?
It indirectly studies internal mental processes by making inferences about them based on a person’s behaviour
What is a theoretical model? What is a strength and a weakness of it?
A proposed model of a system based on experimental outcomes, such as the working memory model. Weakness: can be vague, strength: vagueness allows for adaptation and flexibility.
What is a computer model? What is a strength and a weakness of it?
A model of the human cognition based on computer programs. Weakness: machine reductionism - the mind cannot be compared to a computer as it is affected by emotions and motivation, strength: creates precise and detailed models.
What is the role of schema?
Schema enable us to process lots of information quickly, acting as mental short-cuts. However they can distort our interpretation of sensory information due to stereotyping.
How can the cognitive approach be applied to real life?
As it involves lab experiments, it cannot easily be applied to real life due to artificiality and a lack of external validity. However computer models have helped to advance artificial intelligence.
How can cognitive neuroscience be applied to real life?
Through fMRI and PET scans we can study mental disorders, leading to the advancement of treatments. Also ‘brain fingerprinting’ can tell if someone is looking at a familiar object by mapping their brainwaves, which could be used in court to show if a criminal was at the scene of a crime.
What is the behaviourist approach?
A way of explaining behaviour in terms of what is observable and in terms of learning
What is classical conditioning?
Learning by association. It occurs when an unconditioned stimulus and a new neutral stimulus are repeatedly paired together, until the neutral stimulus elicits the same response as the unconditioned stimulus did alone.
Describe Pavlov’s research into classical conditioning
Pavlov conditioned dogs to salivate to the sound of a bell. He paired the sound of a bell with food, so when the dogs were eating and salivating, they heard a bell sound. After repetition of this, Pavlov removed the food, and the dogs continued to salivate to the sound of the bell alone. This is an example of classical conditioning.
What is operant conditioning?
A form of learning in which behaviour is shaped and maintained by its consequences. Consequences of behaviour include positive and negative reinforcement, and punishment.
Describe Skinner’s research into operant conditioning
Skinner put rats into specially designed cages called ‘Skinner boxes’. Every time the rat activated the lever within the box it was rewarded with a food pellet. Quickly the rat caught onto the system and continued to repeatedly press the lever. This is an example of positive reinforcement, part of operant conditioning.
Describe the ‘little Albert’ experiment
A very young boy, Albert, was introduced to a white rat, who he seemed to like. Then, whenever he touched the rat, a loud noise would be sounded. Albert reacted with fear to the loud noise. Then, after an interval, the white rat was brought back to Albert without the noise, but he now showed fear towards the rat. This is an example of classical conditioning.
How can the behaviourist approach be applied to real life?
Operant conditioning can be used to explain addictive behaviour such as gambling and gaming. Classical conditioning can be used in therapy to treat phobias: the phobic can be conditioned to disassociate a stimulus from a negative response, and re-associate it with a positive response.
How does behaviourism view free will?
Behaviourism ignores any possible influence that free will may have on behaviour. It sees all behaviour as determined by past experiences.
