Learning

Question 1

Behaviourism is:

Answer 1

All behaviour is explained by environmental influences. Scientific approach, no consideration of thoughts or feelings.

Question 2

Bandura (1977) Social Learning Theory

Answer 2

People learn through observation, modelling and imitation

Question 3

Modelling (2 studies)

Answer 3

E.g., Bandura, Ross and Ross (1969) Bobo Doll study - copied the aggression seen.
However, it has been found that observation and modelling depends on the observer-model similarity (age, gender) - kinda similar to the differential experience hypothesis - more encounters with people similar to yourself. (e.g., peer models in school led to significantly greater learning and recall than teacher models)

Question 4

Observation

Answer 4

Law of Effect - Thorndike (1898) behaviour that has gratifying consequences is more likely to be reproduced. Whereas behaviours with negative consequences are less likely to be repeated.
Vicarious conditioning (positive reinforcement) - children observe and internalize the reaction to a persons behaviour

Question 5

Conditioning

Answer 5

Classical conditioning: Association (Pavlov, 1980’s)

Operant Conditioning: Reward and punishment (Skinner, 1938)

Question 6

Constructivism

Answer 6

Learning is a building block that occurs gradually in steps. Children learn and build on prior knowledge and experiences.

Question 7

Piaget (1938) Cognitive Developmental Theory

Answer 7

Children learning through assimilation and accomodation

He believed that children learnt through stages (development preceeded learning)

Question 8

Piaget 4 stages

Answer 8

Sensorimotor stage (recognise object permanence)
Pre-operational stage (Thinking is egocentric (children have difficulty thinking of others… Mountain Dillema)
Concrete operational stage (Once they recognise other peoples emotions etc)
Formal operation stage (Can think of abstract concepts)

Question 9

Money and Erhardt (1972)

Answer 9

Biosocial Theory
Gender is assigned at birth and reinforced with differential treatment from labels.
The reaction is what the child bases their gender identity on

Question 10

Rubin et al (1974)

Answer 10

Asked parents to describe their children, often the boys were considered strong, assertive and playful. Whereas girls were described as tender etc.
A different study found that nurses tended to babies (regardless of gender) dressed in blue rougher than babies dressed in pink

Question 11

Martin and Little (2004)

Answer 11

Gender is very conformist. Children under 4 did not exhibit gender identities for themselves but did exhbit an appreciation for stereotypes.
They remembered more gender consistent photos (e.g., male firefighter, than male nurse)

Question 12

Martin and Halverson (1981) (3)

Answer 12

Gender Schema Theory

1. Schemas: Learn from adults, children, and vicarious conditioning (e.g., the media). These structure and process information
2. Ingroup and outgroup schemas (align with Tajfel and Turner, 1979) Social Identity Theory. Identify with the other and avoid behaviour associated with the other group
3. Resilience of gender beliefs: Ignore inconsistent information

Question 13

Baren-Cohen (2000)

Answer 13

Theory of mind:
Children (at Piaget, 1938 concrete operational stage) cease to be egocentric and understand that other people have thoughts, feelings and emotions (this is thought to be delayed in autistic children)

Question 14

Vygotsky (1978)

Answer 14

Sociocultural theory of development
Environmental and interactive interaction contribute to cognitive development. Learning is a social process
Zone of Proximinal Development: guides learning (gap between a persons ability and the potential with another persons help)