Learning theories

Question 1

Stimulus generalisation + discrimination

Answer 1

When a stimuli similar to the CS produces the CR

Question 2

Discrimination

Answer 2

The CR is only produced in response to the CS + not to similar stimuli

Question 3

Extinction

Answer 3

When the CR declines + disappears because the CS is repeatedly presented in the absence of the UCS

Question 4

Classical conditioning

Answer 4

NS - no response
UCS - UCR
UCS + NS - UCR
NS - UCR
CS CR

Question 5

How is behaviour learned?

Answer 5

Through Association + is not annate

Question 6

Aim of little Albert

Answer 6

To demonstrate that the principles of classical conditioning can be used to explain how humans acquire phobic behaviours + to show that a fear response can be created within a young child to a similar stimuli doesn’t naturally produce this response

Question 7

Procedure of little Albert

Answer 7

Preconditioning testing, conditioning, trials + post conditioning trials
9 month old male infant called little Albert, laboratory experiment.

Question 8

Little Albert: preconditioning testing

Answer 8

Albert’s response to the stimuli was noted

Question 9

Little Albert: conditioning trials

Answer 9

At 11 months he has presented again with the white rat + every time he reaches for it they make a loud noise behind his head using a hammer + a steel bar. This was repeated over several weeks.

Question 10

Little Albert: stimuli

Answer 10

White rat, loud noise, burning paper, dog, monkey

Question 11

Little Albert: response record

Answer 11

After the 1st trial, Albert showed some distress
After the 2nd trial, Albert seems suspicious of the rat
After the 3rd trial, Albert leaned away from the rat + cried

Question 12

Little, Albert: post conditioning life

Answer 12

Seven weeks later: Albert cried in response to similar stimuli eg white fur, coats, and santas beard (generalisation)
What’s an wanted to desensitise him to the phobia to find extinction, but he left the hospital on the day that the last testing took place.
It is suggested that he was neurologically atypical + died at 6

Question 13

Operant conditioning

Answer 13

Resulted in a link for link between a behaviour + an event
behaviour - act that the individual producers
event - consequence of that behaviour
The consequence can lead to an increase or decrease in the probability of the behaviour being repeated

Question 14

Skinner (1948)

Answer 14

Carried out research on animals using a Skinner box
It contained food pellets that were released when an animal learned to do something
Some skinner boxes had electrified floors which could be used to punish a behaviour
It used to reinforcement and punishment to train animals to learn target behaviours

Question 15

Primary reinforcement

Answer 15

Rewarding because they have a biological significance (food, water, shelter)

Question 16

Secondary reinforcement

Answer 16

Have become associated with the primary reinforcements (money, jobs, house)

Question 17

Social learning stages:

Answer 17

Attention, retention, reproduction, motivation

Question 18

Attention

Answer 18

If attention is paid to the role, model learning or take place
It depends on the distinctiveness of the behaviour + the role models level of arousal from the observer
Children are more likely to copy those similar to themselves + of the same sex

Question 19

Retention

Answer 19

After focusing on the model behaviour observer must retain or store that behaviour.
Imagery + language assist in the process of retaining the information
Humans store behaviour they observe in the form of mental images of verbal descriptors + later recall them

Question 20

Reproduction

Answer 20

Showing the modelled behaviour
It depends on the physical capabilities of the individual + self observation
If it is beyond the individuals capabilities that it can’t be reproduced

Question 21

Motivation

Answer 21

If a reward is offered, we are more likely to reproduce their behaviour

Question 22

Extrinsic motivation

Answer 22

Something tangible as a reward

Question 23

Intrinsic motivation

Answer 23

A reward where there is satisfaction, but not something tangible

Question 24

Vicarious reinforcement

Answer 24

Motivation that doesn’t reward the individual directly

Question 25

Vicarious Learning

Answer 25

Learning through other people who are being rewarded or punished for their behaviour through observation

Question 26

Bandura’s vicarious reinforcement study (1961)

Answer 26

Laboratory experiment from Stanford Uni Nursery school 72 Pps aged 39-69 months, mean age 52 months 24 aggressive RM, 6 of each genders 24 non aggressive RM, 6 of each genders

Question 27

RM and toys

Answer 27

Non aggressive RM played w tinker toy set Aggressive RM played w bobo doll Control group had no RM

Question 28

How were Bandura’s children rated

Answer 28

Rated on each characteristic on 4 separate point likert scales So all Pps could be matched w similar agression

Question 29

Bandura’s procedure

Answer 29

Pps told to sit at table + play w potato + stickers In room was also bobo doll, mallet, construction set + gun Watched Pps for 20m through one way mirrors + recorded categories every 5s Recorded non imitative, physical, verbal, mallet, bobo doll aggression

Question 30

Bandura’s results

Answer 30

Boys more physical aggression + girls more verbal aggression Boys more likely to imitate same sex RM but both imitated same sex RM On average boys more aggressive + aggressive RM portrayed more aggression Kids played w gun despite it not being modelled

Question 31

Aim of bandura

Answer 31

To find out if children imitate aggressive behaviour - even when in a different environment + w/o RM

Question 32

Classical conditioning phobias

Answer 32

Cc states that you can create a phobia of an object or situation if u associate that w an unpleasant experience

Question 33

Dillinger et al (1984)

Answer 33

Took childhood lightning strike survivors + matched them w control group + issued self reported survey to 29 10-13 yr old Pps + observers. Found that LS victims marked higher for fears than CG + it caused them insomnia + emotional upset

Question 34

Di Nardo (1988)

Answer 34

Found that out of 19dog phobic patients (cynophobia), only 66% had ever had a bad experience with dogs (self reported)

Question 35

Watson + Reiner (1920)

Answer 35

Little Albert Stimulus - Behaviour - Consequence

Question 36

Skinner (1950) how phobias are maintained

Answer 36

Explains how phobias are maintained as sufferers develop an avoidance behaviour which leads to negative reinforcement so they repeat the behaviour

Question 37

Mineka + Zinberg (2006)

Answer 37

Boy saw his Grandfather vomit + die so he developed emetophobia + got suicidal but had intervention

Question 38

Dubai et al (2008)

Answer 38

Took toddlers aged 16-20 months + showed them toy snakes + spiders which gave them fear + anxiety. They generalised the rubber toy to others eg mushrooms

Question 39

Systematic Desensitisation

Answer 39

Type of behaviour therapy based off classical conditioning Developed by Wolpe (1950s) Aim: to remove the fear response of a phobia + substituting it for relaxation Gradual exposure, counter conditioning, therapeutic goals

Question 40

In vivo

Answer 40

Patient is actually exposed to phobia stimulus

Question 41

In vitro

Answer 41

Patient imagines exposure to phobia stimulus

Question 42

Systematic desensitisation: phase 1

Answer 42

Patient is taught deep muscle relaxation techniques + breathing exercises Triggers reciprocal inhibition where 1 response is inhibited because it’s incompatible with another

Question 43

Systematic desensitisation: phase 2

Answer 43

Determining the trigger using functional analysis

Question 44

Systematic desensitisation: phase 3

Answer 44

Patients create a fear hierarchy starting with stimuli that creates anxiety + builds up the stages to the most fear provoking List is crucial as it provides a structure for the theory

Question 45

Systematic desensitisation: phase 4

Answer 45

Patient works their way up the fear hierarchy + practices relaxation techniques. When they feel comfortable they can move up the stages but if they get too upset they can move back down. Process is repeated until stimulus fails to evoke fear

Question 46

Wolpe (1964)

Answer 46

Successfully used the method to treat 18yr old male with severe handwashing compulsion disorder. Involved a fear of contaminating others with urine: spent 45 minutes cleaning genitalia, two hours washing hands + four hours showering. They relaxed him and asked him to imagine anxiety scenes, presented real bottle of urine and moved it closer until he was able to apply drops of urine at back of hand without it evoking anxiety.

Question 47

Rothbaum et al (2000)

Answer 47

Used systematic desensitisation on participants scared of flying (aerophobia) + after 93% agreed to take a trial flight + anxiety levels were lower than those in a control group + were still desensitised 6 months later

Question 48

Bastian et al (2011) aim

Answer 48

To investigate whether playing violent video games has dehumanising consequences in relation to others + the self

Question 49

Bastian aim study 1

Answer 49

Investigates the effects in a violent video game context where players were violent towards each other

Question 50

Bastian aim study 2

Answer 50

Investigates whether playing violent video games against computer avatars rather than humans had any effect on self perceived humanity