the learning approach

Question 1

blank slate

Answer 1

the idea that all individuals are born without any mental content, and that all knowledge must come from experience

Question 2

stimulus

Answer 2

an event or object which leads to a behavioural response

Question 3

model

Answer 3

a person who inspires or encourages others to imitate positive or negative behaviours

Question 4

social learning

Answer 4

the learning of a new behaviour that is observed in a role model and imitated later in the absence of that model

Question 5

aggression

Answer 5

behaviour that is aimed at harming others either physically or psychologically

Question 6

nature

Answer 6

innate, genetic factors which influence behaviour

Question 7

nurture

Answer 7

environmental influences on behaviour

Question 8

sex-typed behaviour

Answer 8

actions that are typically performed by one particular sex and are seen in society as more appropriate for that sex. For example, aggression is seen as masculine-type behaviour and was more commonly imitated by boys in the Bandura et al. study

Question 9

extraneous variable

Answer 9

this either acts randomly, affecting the DV in all levels of the IV or systematically, i.e. on one level of the IV (called a confounding variable) so can obscure the effect of the IV, making the results difficult to interpret

Question 10

inter-rater reliability

Answer 10

the extent to which two researchers rate the same activity that they have observed, heard in an interview, etc., in the same way. This is judged using a correlation (an ‘r’ value) between two ratings, which will be high (close to 1) if they’re reliable

Question 11

classical conditioning

Answer 11

learning through association, studied in both humans and animals

Question 12

phobia

Answer 12

the irrational, persistent fear of an object or event (stimulus) that poses little real danger but creates anxiety and avoidance in the sufferer

Question 13

evaluative learning

Answer 13

a form of classical conditioning wherein attitudes towards stimuli are considered to be the product of complex thought processes and emotions, which lead an individual to perceive or evaluate a previously neutral stimulus negatively. Attitudes acquired through evaluative learning may be harder to change than more superficial associations

Question 14

imagery exposure therapy

Answer 14

therapy in which the person is asked to vividly imagine their feared object, situation or activity

Question 15

self-control

Answer 15

a form of cognitive-behaviour therapy. It involves using ‘self-talk’; the individual is taught to recognise difficult situations, acknowledge troubling thoughts and consider alternative, positive thoughts

Question 16

operant conditioning

Answer 16

learning through the consequences of our actions

Question 17

positive reinforcement

Answer 17

a reward for behaviour that fulfils a biological need is known as a primary positive reinforcer, A stimulus that is associated with primary reinforcers can also be learned and is known as a secondary reinforcer

Question 18

captive animal welfare

Answer 18

psychologists working with animals that are confined or outside of their normal environment must ensure the health and well-being of the animals. As part of this captive management, an animal’s natural needs for accommodation, environment, freedom of movement, food, water and carte should be appropriately met

Question 19

positive reinforcement

Answer 19

a form of operant conditioning. It involves rewarding desirable behaviour to encourage it to be repeated. For example, praising a child for saying ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ positively reinforces good manners

Question 20

secondary positive reinforcement (SPR) training

Answer 20

training in which a secondary reinforcer such as a sound marker is sued and then followed with an administration of a primary positive reinforcer (typically food)

Question 21

behaviour chaining

Answer 21

a process that allows separately trained behaviour to be performed in sequence in response to cues

Question 22

desensitisation

Answer 22

to reduce and extinguish a response (e.g. fear) to stimuli (e.g. a syringe)