learning theories Flashcards

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1
Q

what are learning theories about?

A

• learning from the environment
• the effects of conditioning, reinforcement and punishment

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2
Q

how does classical conditioning work?

A

UCS —> UCR
UCS + CS —> UCR
CS —> CR

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3
Q

what is a neutral stimulus?

A

• a stimulus that does not produce a response until it is paired with an unconditioned stimulus

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4
Q

what is extinction?

A

• when the association between the uncontrolled stimulus and the conditioned stimulus no longer occurs, usually after a long period of time

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5
Q

what is spontaneous recovery?

A

• when after extinction, an association reappears without conditioning

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6
Q

what is operant conditioning?

A

• the idea that learning is voluntary
• when people are behaved and rewarded for it, they will repeat it

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7
Q

what is positive reinforcement?

A

• when something desired is given in response to a behaviour
• e.g cleaning room = more pocket money

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8
Q

what is positive punishment?

A

• when something undesired is given as a punishment
• e.g getting told off for speeding

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9
Q

what is negative reinforcement?

A

• when something undesired is taken away in response to a behaviour
• e.g good behaviour leads to being ungrounded

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10
Q

what is negative punishment?

A

• when something nice is taken away as punishment
• eg taking away phone for bad behaviour

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11
Q

what is primary reinforcement?

A

• the reward is a basic need for example food or warmth
• for example pigeons peck at discs for food

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12
Q

what is secondary reinforcement?

A

• 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

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13
Q

what is a fixed interval schedule?

A

• there is a fixed time of the reward/punishment
• e.g every 5 minutes

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14
Q

what is a variable interval schedule?

A

• 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

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15
Q

what is a fixed ratio schedule?

A

• the reward/punishment is a set number
• e.g after every 5 pecks a seed is given

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16
Q

what is a variable ratio schedule?

A

• 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

17
Q

what are the three stages of social learning theory?

A

• attention
• retention
• reproduction
• motivation

18
Q

describe the attention stage of social learning theory

A

• the individual notices the behaviour and pays particular attention to it

19
Q

describe the retention stage of social learning theory

A

• 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

20
Q

describe the reproduction stage of social learning theory

A

• once the modelled behaviour is in the individuals memory it can be imitated

21
Q

describe the motivation stage of social learning theory

A

• 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

22
Q

how does classical conditioning maintain a phobia?

A

• 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

23
Q

how does operant conditioning maintain phobias?

A

• 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

24
Q

what is systematic desensitisation?

A

• 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

25
Q

what are the strengths of S.D?

A

• 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

26
Q

what are the weaknesses of S.D?

A

• 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

27
Q

what is flooding?

A

• exposure therapy
• relies on exhaustion of fear leading to calmer response links
• relies on the theory of classical conditioning and exhaustion

28
Q

what are the strengths of flooding?

A

• 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

29
Q

what are the weaknesses of flooding?

A

• unethical and traumatising
• spontaneous recovery can occur after extinction and patients are not taught fear calming techniques to revolve the situation