Learning approaches (behaviourist and SLT) Flashcards
How did the behaviourist approach differ from Wundt’s introspection?
- Only interested in studying behaviour that can be observed and measured.
- Tried to maintain more control and objectivity within their research and relied on lab experiments.
What did behaviourists suggest?
That the basic processes that govern learning are the same in all species and animals could replace humans as experimental subjects.
What are the 2 processes of learning according to the behaviourist approach?
Classical conditioning
Operant conditioning
What is classical conditioning?
Learning through association.
Who conducted research into classical conditioning?
Pavlov
What was the procedure of Pavlovs dogs?
UCS (food) - UCR (salivation) NS (bell) - NR UCS + NS = UCR (salivation) CS (bell) = CR (salivation) Thus, Pavlov was able to show how a neutral stimulus can come to elicit a new learned response through association.
What is operant conditioning?
Learning through reinforcement/consequences.
What are the 3 types of reinforcement and how do they impact behaviour?
Positive - receiving a reward when a certain behaviour is performed.
Negative - when an individual avoids something unpleasant.
Punishment - unpleasant consequence of behaviour.
Positive and negative reinforcement increase the likelihood of the behaviour being repeated.
Punishment decreases the change of behaviour being repeated.
Who conducted research into operant conditioning?
Skinner
What was Skinner’s box?
Every time a rat activated a lever within the box it was rewarded with a food pellet.
After many repetitions the animal would continue to perform that behaviour.
State 2 positives of the behaviourist approach.
Scientific credibility:
- focuses on measurable and observable behaviour
- uses highly controlled lab studies
- replication and objectivity
Real-life application:
- operant conditioning is basis of token economy
- classical conditioning can be applied to treatment of phobias
- both advantageous to patients as it requires less effort and they don’t have to think about their problem unlike in CBT
State 2 negatives of the behaviourist approach.
Mechanistic view of behaviour:
- suggests we are passive and machine like responders to the environment with little conscious insight into our behaviour
- SLT and cognitive approach place greater emphasis on mental processes when learning suggesting we play a more active role
Ethical and practical issues with animal studies:
- animals exposed to stressful conditions which may have affected how they acted
- lack generalisability
How does SLT suggest we learn?
We learnt through observation and imitation.
What is vicarious reinforcement?
Behaviour that is seen to have positive consequences is more likely to be imitated by the observer.
What are the role of meditational processes?
- Attention - extent to which we notice certain behaviours.
- Retention - how well the behaviour is remembered.
- Motor reproduction - the ability of the observer to perform the behaviour.
- Motivation - the will to perform the behaviour (normally determined by whether the behaviour was punished or rewarded).
What is identification?
- People are more likely to imitate role models (modelling).
- Role models = similar characteristics to the observer and/or are attractive and have higher status.
- The observer identifies with the role model.
What is an example of a study into SLT?
Bobo doll study:
- recorded behaviour of young children who watched an adult behave aggressively to a Bobo doll.
- when these children were later observed playing with the Bobo doll they behaved much more aggressively towards the doll than those who had observed a non-aggressive adult.
State 2 positives of SLT.
Importance of cognitive factors in learning:
- provides a more comprehensive explanation of human learning by recognising the role of meditational processes
Explains cultural differences in behaviour:
- how children can learn from individuals around them and through media
State 2 negatives of SLT.
Over reliance on evidence from lab studies:
- contrived nature - demand characteristics
- Bobo doll - children behaving how they thought they were expected to behave
Underestimates biological factors:
- Bobo doll - boys were more aggressive than girls
- hormonal effects - testosterone
