Learning approach Flashcards
Intro
How do you apply the concepts of the learning approach in real life?
Concepts from the learning approach are applied in real life through behaviors learned via observation, reinforcement, and conditioning. For example, habits are often shaped through reinforcement or modeling after others.
What are the terminologies of the learning approach?
Classical conditioning: Learning through association.
Operant conditioning: Learning through reinforcement and punishment.
Reinforcement: Increases the likelihood of a behavior.
Punishment: Decreases the likelihood of a behavior.
Social learning theory: Learning through observing others.
What are the main assumptions of the learning approach?
The main assumptions are:
All behaviors are learned from the environment.
Learning is the result of stimulus-response associations.
Behavior can be learned through conditioning and observation.
Humans and animals learn in similar ways.
How do you apply the main assumptions of learning approach to your life?
These assumptions can be applied by recognizing the influence of past experiences and observations on personal behavior, understanding how reinforcement shapes actions, and using observational learning to acquire new skills or behaviors.
What are the 3 core studies of learning about?
Bandura et al.: Investigates social learning theory and how children learn behaviors by observing role models.
Fagen et al.: Focuses on operant conditioning and training behaviors in animals through reinforcement.
Saavedra and Silverman: Explores classical conditioning in relation to phobias and behavior therapy.
What is Bandura et al.’s study about?
The study examines social learning theory, specifically how children learn aggressive behaviors by observing a model who either acts aggressively or non-aggressively.
What is Fagen et al.’s study about?
This study is about operant conditioning in elephants, exploring how behaviors can be reinforced through positive reinforcement in captive animal training.
What is Saavedra and Silverman’s study about?
The study focuses on treating a phobia using classical conditioning, showing how a boy’s fear of buttons was treated using behavioral therapies, including exposure and reinforcement techniques.
What is social learning theory?
Social learning theory suggests that people can learn behaviors by observing others, particularly role models, and then imitating these behaviors, especially if the model is rewarded.
What is the effect on kids’ behavior after seeing their role model?
Children are likely to imitate the behavior they observe in their role model, particularly if the behavior is rewarded or if the role model has a significant influence.
What is classical conditioning?
Classical conditioning is a type of learning where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with an unconditioned stimulus to produce a conditioned response.
What is evaluative learning?
Evaluative learning is when an emotional response (like fear or disgust) is learned based on an association with a stimulus, such as developing a dislike for a product after a bad experience with it.
What is operant conditioning?
Operant conditioning is a method of learning where behaviors are influenced by their consequences, such as rewards or punishments.
What is phobia?
A phobia is an intense, irrational fear of a specific object, situation, or activity that leads to avoidance behavior.
What are the different kinds of phobias?
Specific phobias: Fear of specific objects or situations (e.g., spiders, heights).
Social phobia: Fear of social situations.
Agoraphobia: Fear of being in situations where escape might be difficult.
What is behavior chaining?
Behavior chaining is the process of breaking down a complex behavior into smaller, manageable steps, each reinforced individually to build up to the full behavior.
Main Assumptions in Context
What are the two learning assumptions in social theory?
The two assumptions are:
Learning occurs through observing others.
Behavior is influenced by reinforcement and punishment.
What did Kimble (1960) define learning as?
Kimble defined learning as a relatively permanent change in behavior that results from experience.
What does learning result in, and what kind of change?
Learning results in a relatively permanent change in behavior, indicating that the individual has acquired a new skill or behavior.
How may learning occur?
Learning may occur through conditioning, observation, or reinforcement from external influences.
What influences and provides opportunities for learning?
The environment, role models, rewards, punishments, and experiences all provide opportunities for learning.
Bandura et al. Study (Social Learning)
Who do children tend to copy?
Children tend to copy role models, especially those they see as authoritative or those who are rewarded for their actions.
What influences a kid’s behavior?
A kid’s behavior is influenced by observation of role models, reinforcement, punishment, and social norms.
What can lead a child to acquire a new response?
Observing a role model performing a behavior and being rewarded for it can lead a child to acquire a new response.
What can social learning lead to?
Social learning can lead to the acquisition of new behaviors, attitudes, and skills through observation and imitation.
What had previous research shown?
Previous research had shown that children are more likely to imitate aggressive behavior if they see adults being aggressive, especially when those adults are not punished.
Why were the kids rewarded? Give examples.
Kids were rewarded for imitating the aggressive behaviors of the role model, like hitting the Bobo doll with a mallet.
Why were the kids punished? Give examples.
Kids were punished for behaviors that were not allowed or for failing to imitate the aggressive behaviors, depending on the study group.
What is the aim of the study?
The aim of the study was to investigate if children would imitate aggressive behavior modeled by adults.
What are the four hypotheses?
Children exposed to aggressive models will show more aggressive behavior.
Children exposed to non-aggressive models will show less aggression.
Children will imitate same-sex models more than opposite-sex models.
Boys will be more aggressive than girls.
What kind of experiment was it?
It was a laboratory experiment.
What was the research design?
The research design was a matched pairs design, where children were matched based on their levels of pre-existing aggression.
What was the sample size?
The sample size consisted of 72 children from a nursery school.
How many of the kids were rated by both observers?
All children were rated by two observers.
How many kids were rated by only one observer?
Some children were rated by only one observer to ensure consistency in observations.
How many kids were in the different IV groups?
The sample was split into three groups: one exposed to aggressive role models, one to non-aggressive role models, and one control group.
Fagen et al. Study (Operant Conditioning)
What is operant conditioning?
Operant conditioning is learning where behavior is shaped by its consequences (reinforcements and punishments).
What is positive reinforcement?
Positive reinforcement is adding a desirable stimulus to increase the likelihood of a behavior.
