Approaches - Learning approach to psychology

Question 1

What is the key assumption of the learning approach to psychology?

Answer 1

All behaviour is learned
- we are all born …. (as a blank slate) & our behaviour is a
result of our experiences

Question 2

What are 3 ways in which behaviour can be learned?

Answer 2

through;

• association
• rewards & punishment
• observation

Question 3

John Watson?

Answer 3

…

Question 4

What is classical conditioning?

Answer 4

Learning through ASSOCIATION
e.g. learning to fear something that you associate with a
loud noise (little Albert)

Question 5

Research into classical conditioning

Answer 5

Pavlov’s dogs
- dogs fed after the sound of a bell
- dogs learned to associate the sound of the bell with their
food
- eventually dogs began to salivate just at the sound

Watson: Little Albert
- learned to fear rat when he heard a loud noise

Question 6

Outline the process of classical conditioning & association for Pavlov’s study

Answer 6

Bell (NS) > no salivation
Food (UCS) > Salivation (UCR)

Bell (NS)
+ > salivation (UCR)
Food (UCS)

Bell (CS) > Salivation (CR)

Question 7

What is operant conditioning?

Answer 7

Learning through rewards & punishment

Question 8

What is positive reinforcement?

Answer 8

When behaviours are strengthened through rewards

Question 9

What is negative reinforcement?

Answer 9

When avoidance of punishment strengthens behaviour

e.g. learned helplessness in depression - people who are r
repeatedly punished for failure eventually refuse to
take part in life’s activities

Question 10

Research demonstrating operant conditioning

Answer 10

Skinner: Rats
- rats rewarded with food for pressing lever > positively
reinforced the pressing behaviour
- rats then pressed the lever a lot (CONTINUOUS
reinforcement)
- floor electrified as a punishment for certain actions
(pressing lever when red light showing) > negative
reinforcement of not pressing the lever by avoiding the
shock

Question 11

Strengths of classical & operant conditioning

Answer 11

• scientific methods are used & objectivity
  (observable, quantitative data)
• leads to practical applications
  e.g. Training guide dogs & school reward & sanctions
  systems (operant)
• can explain how our experiences experience our later
  behaviour

Question 12

Weaknesses of classical & operant conditioning

Answer 12

• a lot of research is conducted on animals & generalised to
  humans
  > limits validity as human brains are more complex
• could be deterministic & excuse people’s behaviour as a
  ‘product of their environment’
  e.g. Criminal who had an aggressive father

Question 13

What are the basic assumptions of social learning theory?

Answer 13

Behaviour is learned through;

• the environment
• observing others & the punishments they receive

Question 14

Research into social learning theory

Answer 14

Bandura: Bobo doll
- children who watched the aggressive role model behaved
significantly more aggressively
- repeated a lot of the standardised words & phrases
- Boys produced more physical aggression
- verbal aggression was the same for boys & girls

> the children learned how to behave & play with the doll
through observation of adults, who influenced their
aggression

Question 15

What do the following key terms mean in terms of social learning theory?

• Imitation
• Identification
• Modelling

Answer 15

• describes when an individual COPIES a behaviour
• helps if someone identifies with another,
  e. g. same age, role model (parent, sports star)
• the person who is being observed is the model

Question 16

What is Vicarious Reinforcement?

Answer 16

Term used when an individual sees a model receive a reward or punishment

Question 17

Research into Vicarious Reinforcement

Answer 17

Bandura & Walters: Bobo doll replication
- all children saw adult playing aggressively
- those who watched the model being rewarded were most
aggressive, followed by those who saw no consequences
- the group that observed punishment were least
aggressive

Question 18

What are the roles of mediating processes in social learning theory?

Answer 18

• We do not imitate EVERYTHING that we see
• Bandura suggested that a series of mediating factors take
  place between observing the behaviour & then deciding
  whether or not to imitate it

Question 19

What are Bandura’s 4 mediating factors that lead to social learning?

(ARAM)

Answer 19

• paying Attention to the model
• being able to Remember the action
• having the Ability to replicate the action
• being Motivated to replicate the action
  (e. g. Bandura & Vicarious reinforcement)

Question 20

Strengths of Social Learning Theory

Answer 20

• approach can explain why certain behaviours are imitated
  (e. g. smoking)
• combines thought processes with behaviourist principle s
  (Holistic theory)

Question 21

Weaknesses of Social Learning Theory

Answer 21

• Bandura’s research was heavily artificial
  
  • prone to demand characteristics
• could be used to excuse people for their crimes
  (e. g. blaming crime on violent video games)