Learning Approach Flashcards
The behaviourist approach
Interested in studying behaviour that is observable and able to measure. Nurture approach.
Classical conditioning
Learning by association. Pavlov's Dog UCS(food)->UCR(saliva) NS(bell)->no response NS(bell)+UCS(food)->UCR(saliva) CS(bell)->CR(saliva)
Operant conditioning
Learning from consequences. Rat study, Skinner.
Positive reinforcement
Receiving a reward/praise
Negative reinforcement
Avoiding something unpleasant. Hands in homework to avoid a detention.
Punishment
Unpleasant consequence of behaviour, eg told off for talking in class. Decreases likelihood of repeating behaviour.
Reinforcement
Increases the likelihood of that behaviour being repeated, can be positive or negative.
Evaluation of behaviourism
Real life application- token economy for schizophrenics, classical conditioning can be applied to the treatment of phobias.
Highly controlled settings.
Suggests we don’t have free will as we have been conditioned from our past reinforcement history.
Social learning theory
Behaviour learned through observation and imitation of others in a social setting.
Imitation
Copying behaviour of others.
Identification
When an observer associates themselves with a role model and wants to be like the role model.
Modelling
From the observers perspective, Modelling is imitating the behaviour of a role model.
Vicarious reinforcement
Reinforcement which is not directly experienced but occurs through observing someone else being reinforced for a behaviour. Only occurs if their behaviour is rewarded.
Mediational processes
Cognitive factors that influence learning and come between stimulus and response.
Bandura
4 mediational processes
Attention- the extent we notice certain behaviours.
Retention- how well the behaviour is remembered.
Motor reproduction- ability of observer to perform behaviour.
Motivation- the will to perform behaviour, depending on if it was rewarded or punished.
