Learning theories- operant and classical Flashcards
what is an attachment?
an emotional bond between 2 people (its reciprocal)
what is the basic idea behind operant conditioning?
We can learn everything through reward of punishment
what is a positive reinforcer?
a reward which makes a good situation even better
what is a negative reinforcer?
a reward which takes away an unpleasant situation
Operant conditioning- mouser performs and receives . The reward the action, so the mouse it.
action
reward
reinforces
repeats
Explain operant conditioning using the mouse and skinner box
each time the mouse crosses this imaginary line, food is released. The mouse stays in this half of the box. The line moves even closer so food is released when the mouse is within this distance to the food dispenser. Now the food is only released when the mouses body part is touching the lever. the food is only released now when the mouses foot is touching it so the mouse will continue to touch it with its foot when its hungry
Explain operant conditioning with a baby
Baby performs action:cries
baby receives reward: food relieves hunger
The reward reinforces the action, so the baby repeats it
With the baby example for operant conditioning:
Food is the reinforcer
Mother is the reinforcer
primary
secondary
what is a stimulus?
an event that causes a response
what is a repsonse
an action made because a stimulus is detected
what is innate
born with it
what is conditioned
learned
there are 3 processes to classical conditioning with a dog and food- what are they
1: Food= unconditioned stimulus —-> dog drools=unconditioned response
2: Bell=neutral stimulus+food=unconditioned stimulus—–> Dog drools=unconditioned response
3: Bell=conditioned stimulus——> dog drools=conditioned response to the bell
describe the 3 processes to classical conditioning for a baby and food
1: Food=unconditioned stimulus——> baby feels pleasure=unconditioned response
2: mother=neutral stimulus+ food=unconditioned stimulus——-> baby feels pleasure=unconditioned response
3: mother=conditioned stimulus—–> baby feels pleasure
in operant conditioning, the association is made between what?
between an action and a reward
in classical conditioning, the association is made between what?
between a neutral stimulus and an innate, unconditioned response
What does learning theory as a whole state?
that a person either learns to from an attachment by reward or punishment or can learn by having as association between a neutral stimuli and an innate, unconditioned response.
EVALUATION
What did Harlow and Harlow do and how does it dispute learning theory?
They studied whether monkeys went to a cylinder which had food or one that provided comfort. They found out monkeys went to one that provided comfort. It showed that feeding was not the main source of reinforcement and so not the main source of attachment.
EVALUATION
however, why did Harlow and Harlow lack validity?
because it was done on monkeys and they have a different psychological make up
EVALUATION
research by Schaffer and Emerson also disputes learning theory, why?
Toddlers were attached to who put them to bed rather than those who had fed them.
EVALUATION
explain how the explanation of learning theory is reductionist?
it ignores the fact we are individuals and have different genetic make-up, it ignores biology and evolution
