learning theories Flashcards
what are learning theories about?
• learning from the environment
• the effects of conditioning, reinforcement and punishment
how does classical conditioning work?
UCS —> UCR
UCS + CS —> UCR
CS —> CR
what is a neutral stimulus?
• a stimulus that does not produce a response until it is paired with an unconditioned stimulus
what is extinction?
• when the association between the uncontrolled stimulus and the conditioned stimulus no longer occurs, usually after a long period of time
what is spontaneous recovery?
• when after extinction, an association reappears without conditioning
what is operant conditioning?
• the idea that learning is voluntary
• when people are behaved and rewarded for it, they will repeat it
what is positive reinforcement?
• when something desired is given in response to a behaviour
• e.g cleaning room = more pocket money
what is positive punishment?
• when something undesired is given as a punishment
• e.g getting told off for speeding
what is negative reinforcement?
• when something undesired is taken away in response to a behaviour
• e.g good behaviour leads to being ungrounded
what is negative punishment?
• when something nice is taken away as punishment
• eg taking away phone for bad behaviour
what is primary reinforcement?
• the reward is a basic need for example food or warmth
• for example pigeons peck at discs for food
what is secondary reinforcement?
• something that is not a basic need e.g extra pocket money
• could potentially lead to a need such as food
• e.g good behaviour leads to extra pocket money
what is a fixed interval schedule?
• there is a fixed time of the reward/punishment
• e.g every 5 minutes
what is a variable interval schedule?
• there is a varying time of the reward/punishment
• e.g one is given every two, five and three minutes causing behaviours to be steady as they don’t know when the reward will arrive
what is a fixed ratio schedule?
• the reward/punishment is a set number
• e.g after every 5 pecks a seed is given
what is a variable ratio schedule?
• a reward/ punishment is given randomly
• e.g after every 7, 3, 4 times causing behaviour to be continuous as they don’t know when the reward will be given
what are the three stages of social learning theory?
• attention
• retention
• reproduction
• motivation
describe the attention stage of social learning theory
• the individual notices the behaviour and pays particular attention to it
describe the retention stage of social learning theory
• memories are lost if they are not rehearsed (multi store model)
• using visual imagery the individual rehearses the memory that was initially payed attention to
describe the reproduction stage of social learning theory
• once the modelled behaviour is in the individuals memory it can be imitated
describe the motivation stage of social learning theory
• something causes the individual to reproduce the action
• e.g vicarious reinforcement (seeing others being rewarded influences the individual to do it in attempts to be rewarded too)
• being rewarded is a form of operant conditioning
how does classical conditioning maintain a phobia?
• more so explains how phobias are maintained
• the renewal of the association via classical conditioning could explain maintenance of a phobia
• one trial learning is hard to extinguish
how does operant conditioning maintain phobias?
• avoiding phobias is a form of negative reinforcement
• for example a fear of spiders: avoiding spiders avoids the phobia
• additionally they may be comforted when they see their phobia which is a form of positive reinforcement
what is systematic desensitisation?
• combatting conditioning with conditioning
• fear hierarchy is developed and gradually moved upwards
• relaxation techniques are taught such as breathing techniques
• can be in vivo/vitro
what are the strengths of S.D?
• ethical due to gradual exposure
• can easily be explained due to classical conditioning giving patients confidence
• proved to work: capafons study cured 90% of participants with a phobia of flying using S.D
what are the weaknesses of S.D?
• other factors are involved such as operant conditioning and congitive processing - not just classical conditioning
• not useful for all phobias such as mental health issues as they can not just ‘relax’
• time consuming leading to high drop out rates
what is flooding?
• exposure therapy
• relies on exhaustion of fear leading to calmer response links
• relies on the theory of classical conditioning and exhaustion
what are the strengths of flooding?
• rests on the strong theory of classical conditioning
• helps to treat stronger phobias
• wolpe provided evidence when he made a girl scared of cars drive until she was calm
what are the weaknesses of flooding?
• unethical and traumatising
• spontaneous recovery can occur after extinction and patients are not taught fear calming techniques to revolve the situation
