learning approaches- behaviourist and social influence Flashcards
what are assumptions of behaviourist approach
only interested in studying behaviour that can be observed and measured
not concerned with invesitgating mental processes of mind because seen as irrelevant
watson rejected introspection as involved too many concepts that were vague and difficult to measure
behaviourists tried to maintain more control and objectively within thier research and relied on lab studies
all behaviour learned
babys mind as a blank slate written on by experience
suggested basic processes that govern learning are the same in all species
animals replace humans as experimental subjects
identified two important forms pf learning- classical conditioning and operant conditioning
what is classical conditioning (behaviourist)
learning through association
pavlov-showed how dogs could be conditioned to salivate to the sound of bell if sound was repeatedly presented at same time given food, dogs learned to associate the sound of a bell with the food and would produce salivation repsonse every time they heard the sound
neutral stimulus can come to elicit a new learned response through association
unconditioned stimulus+unconditioned response, neutral stimulus+ unconditioned response, conditioned stimulus+conditoned response
what is operant conditioning (behaviourist)
skinner- learning active process where humans and animals operate on their environment
shaped by consequences
positive reinforcement- receving reward when certain behaviour performed
negative reinforcement- occurs when animals avoid something unpleasant and outcome is positive experience
punishment- unpleasant consequence of bhevaiour
positive and negative reinforcement increase likelihood behaviour will be repeated
punishment decreases likelihood behaviour repeated
what is well controlled research (behaviourist evaluation)
based on well controlled research
focused on measurement of observable behaviour within highly controlled lab settings
breaking down behaviour into basic stimulus response units all other possible extraneous variables removed allows cause and effect relationships established
skinner- able to demonstrate how reinforcement influenced an animals behaviour
suggests behaviurists hvae scientific credibility
behaviourists have oversimplified learning process
reducing behaviour to such simple components ingored important influence on all learning- human thought
social learning theory and cognitive approach have drawn attention to mental processes involved in learning
suggests learning more complex than observable behaviour alone and that private mental processes essential
what is real world application (behaviourist evaluation)
pricniples of conditioning applied to rela world behaviours and problems
operant conditioning is basis of token economy system- successfully used in institutions, work by rewarding appropriate behaviour with tokens that can be exchanged for privileges
increases value of behaviourist approach because has widespread application
what is environmental determinism (behaviourist evaluation)
sees all behaviour as conditioned by past conditioning experiences
skinner- everything we do is sum total of reinforcement history, past conditioning history determines outcome
ignores possible influence that free will might have on behaviour
xtreme position and ignores influence of conscious decision making processes on behaviour
what are the assumptions of social learning theory
behaviour learned from experience
observation imitation
learning occurs directly through classical and operant conditioning and indirectly
what is vicarious reinforcement (slt)
indirect learning- individual observes behaviour of others
learner may imitate this behaviour
imitation only occurs if behaviour seen to be rewarded rather than punished
learner observes behavour but observes consequences of behaviour
what is the role of mediational processes
focuses on how mental factors involved in learning
mental factors mediate in learning processes to determine whether new response required
attention-extent to which we notice certain behaviours
retention- how well behaviour remembered
motor reproduction-ability of observer to perform behaviour
motivation-the will to perform behaviour determined by whether the behaviour rewarded or punished
last two=performance
first two=learning
learning and performance does not need to be together
observeed behaviours may be stored and reproduced at later time
what is identification (slt)
people more likely to imitate people they identify with
person they identify with is role model and process of imitating role model is modelling
person becomes role model if they are seen to possess similar characteristics to obsrever and or attractive and have high status
role models may not be physically present in environment- important implications for influence of media on behaviour
what is banduras research (slt)
study A-recorded behaviour of young children who watched adult behave in aggressive way towards bobo doll, adult hit doll with hammer and shouted abuse at it, when children later observed playing with various toys they behaved more aggressively towards the doll and the other yoys than those who had obsreved non aggressive adult
study B-showed videos to children where adult behaved aggressively towards bobo doll, one group of children saw adult praised for their behaviour, second group saw adult being punsihed for their aggression, third group saw aggression without consequence, when given own bobo doll, first group showed much more aggression then the third then the second
what is cognitive factors (slt evaluation)
recognises the importance of cognitive factors in learning
neither classical or operant conditioning can offer adequate account of learning on their own
humans and animals store info about behaviour of others and use this to make judgement about when appropriate to perform certain actions
slt provides more comprehensive explanation of human learning by recognising the role of mediational processes
criticised for making too little reference to influence of biological factors on social learning
bandura claimed natural biological differences influenced learning potential, he thought learning was determined by environment
recent research suggests that observational learning may be result of mirror neurons in brain- allows us to empathise with and imitate other people
biological influences were underemphasised
what is contrived lab studies (slt evaluation_
evidence on which based on gathered through lab studies
banduras ideas developed through observation of young childrens behaviour in lab
lab studies criticised for contrived nature, pps respond demand characteristics
because main purpose of doll is to strike it, children behaving in a way they thought was expected
suggests research may tell us little about how children ctually learn aggression in everyday life
what is real world application (slt evaluation)
principles have been applied to range of real world behaviours
advantage of being able to explain cultural differences in behaviour
modelling and imitation and reinforcement can account for how children learn from others round them- explain how social or cultural norms transmitted through particular societies
proved useful in understanding range of behaviours
increases value of approach as it can account for real world behaviour
