BEHAVIORIST APPROACHES TO LEARNING

Question 1

Behaviourism

Answer 1

the theory that psychology can be objectively studied through observable action. The idea that all behaviours are learnt through an interaction with the environment.

Question 2

define what Classical conditioning is

Answer 2

a process of learning through involuntary associations between a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus that results in a conditioned response

Question 3

what type of learning is classical conditioning

Answer 3

its a form of involuntary learning

subject can be conditioned without making any conscious effort (passive learner)

Question 4

what is Conditioning

Answer 4

is the process of learning associations between a stimulus in the environment and a behavioural response

Question 5

what are the three phases of classical conditioning

Answer 5

before
during
after

Question 6

Stimulus

Answer 6

event which causes a response

(sound, smell, visual, temperature, object)

Question 7

Response

Answer 7

a reaction to a stimulus

(involuntary, reflexive, emotion)

Question 8

Before conditioning

Answer 8

neutral stimulus has no associations and therefore doesn’t produce any significant response

Unconditioned stimulus provides an unconscious response

The unconditioned response is the naturally occurring behaviour
in response to a stimulus

UCS elicits an automatic response and that the NS elicits no response.

Question 9

During conditioning
the acquisition phase

Answer 9

repeatedly present the NS immediately before the UCS which will elicit the UCR

Question 10

After conditioning

Answer 10

learning has occurred because the neutral stimulus has become the conditioned stimulus producing
a conditioned response

The conditioned stimulus is originally the neutral stimulus that produces a conditioned response after being repeatedly paired with an unconditioned stimulus (NS -> CS)
- The conditioned response occurs involuntarily after the conditioned
stimulus is presented, it is the learnt response after classical
conditioning has taken place

Question 11

Neutral stimulus (NS)

Answer 11

the stimulus that originally doesn’t produce any response

Question 12

Unconditioned stimulus (UCS)

Answer 12

any stimulus that produces an automatic reflex

Question 13

Unconditioned response (UCR)

Answer 13

the response which occurs automatically when the UCS is presented

Question 14

Conditioned stimulus (CS)

Answer 14

the stimulus that is neutral at the start of the conditioning process but through repeated association with the CS produces the same effect as the UCS

Question 15

Conditioned response (CR)

Answer 15

the new learned response which is produced by the conditioned stimulus

Question 16

what is Operant conditioning

Answer 16

Suggests that learning occurs through interacting with the external environment

Behaviour is influenced by direct and observable environmental consequences for behaviour

Question 17

what type of learning is operant conditioning

Answer 17

The learner is active as the behaviour is consciously changed or maintained in response to a consequence

Question 18

what are the three phases of operant conditioning

Answer 18

antecedent, behaviour and
consequence (ABC)

Question 19

what happens in operant conditioning

Answer 19

consequence of a behaviour determines the likelihood that it will reoccur

Question 20

what are consequences

Answer 20

punishment or reinforcement

is an outcome of behaviour, which determines the likelihood that the behaviour will occur again in the future

Question 21

what is the Antecedent in operant conditioning

Answer 21

the stimulus or
event that precedes and
often elicits a particular
behaviour.

AKA ‘discriminative
stimulus’
- Triggers a response
- The environment,
the cue etc..

Question 22

Behaviour in operant conditioning

Answer 22

the voluntary
actions that occur in the
presence of the antecedent,
the learner plays an active
role in the action.

AKA the ‘response’
- The voluntary
response to the
antecedent

Question 23

Consequence in opponent conditioning

Answer 23

The outcome of the behaviour, which determines the
likelihood that it will occur
again.

reinforcement or
punishment (+ or
-)
- event that follows the response

Question 24

Reinforcement-

Answer 24

consequence that increases the likelihood of a behaviour reoccurring

Question 25

punishment

Answer 25

consequence that decreases the likelihood of a behaviour reoccurring

Question 26

Positive reinforcement-

Answer 26

the addition of a desirable stimulus, which increases the likelihood of a behaviour occurring

Question 27

negative reinforcement

Answer 27

the removal of an undesirable stimuli’s which, increases the likelihood of a behaviour reoccurring

Question 28

Punishment

Answer 28

Decreases the likelihood of a behaviour reoccurring

Question 29

positive punishment

Answer 29

the addition of an undesirable stimulus, which decreases the likelihood of a behaviour occurring

Question 30

negative punishment

Answer 30

the removal of a desirable stimulus, which decreases the likelihood of a behaviour reoccurring

Question 31

what is the aim of reinforcement

Answer 31

is to strengthen or increase the likelihood of a response (or behaviour) occurring again

Question 32

similarities with operant and classical conditioning

Answer 32

- Both are behaviourist approaches to learning, that all behaviours are learnt through environmental interaction -both have 3 phases of learning -both require several trials in order for learning to occur, unless its emotionally significant

Question 33

differences between operant conditioning and classical conditioning

Answer 33

- operant conditioning involves voluntary learning - learners are active during operant conditioning whereas learners are passive during classical - operant conditioning requires a consequencewhereas no consequence is needed during classical conditioning

Question 34

SOCIAL-COGNITIVE APPROACHES TO LEARNING

Answer 34

Suggests that learning takes place in a social setting and involves various cognitive processes - Involves interaction between the environment and our thoughts - Strong emphasis on our social environment Learning occurs in a social situation and behaviours can be learnt by watching and imitating others in these settings

Question 35

Observational learning

Answer 35

- Process of learning that involves watching the behaviour of a model and the associated consequence of that behaviour -watching these behaviours and associated consequences we can learn from somebody else’s experiences -In this sense we can be indirectly conditioned by watching somebody else’s conditioning

Question 36

learner

Answer 36

the learner has an active role in learning as they need to watch and pay attention to the model in order to be able to imitate the behaviour

Question 37

Modle

Answer 37

the individual who is performing the behaviour that the learner observes, in this way it can also be referred to modelling, the model may be: Older/ mature, well respected, Role model, Higher status

Question 38

what are the 5 stages of observational learning:

Answer 38

* Attention * Retention * Reproduction * Motivation * Reinforcement

Question 39

attention

Answer 39

Learner allocates cognitive energy and effort to notice the intricate details of the models behaviour - Actively focus on the models behaviour and the consequences of the behaviour

Question 40

Retention

Answer 40

Learner stores the mental representation (memory) in their long term memory (LTP) for later use - Information is accessed later when the individual goes to perform the behaviour.

Question 41

Reproduction

Answer 41

Individual evaluates whether they have the physical or mental capabilities to replicate the behaviour - If the learner deems, they don’t have the capabilities the process stops - *THE LEARNER HASN’T ACTED YET*

Question 42

Motivation

Answer 42

Individual must have a desire/ want to complete the behaviour, therefore there must be a positive consequence or reward - Can be intrinsic or extrinsic motivation

Question 43

Reinforcement

Answer 43

The individual receives a positive consequence making them more likely to produce that behaviour in the future - Either self-reinforcement, external reinforcement or vicarious reinforcement