learning theory Flashcards
what does the learning theory believe
- born as a blank slate, all behaviour is learnt
- attach to anyone that feeds you
classical conditioning
learn by association
classical conditioning process
milk (unconditioned stimulus) = happy baby (unconditioned response)
mum (neutral stimulus) = baby (no response)
milk (unconditioned stimulus) + mum (neutral stimulus) = happy baby (unconditioned response)
mum (conditioned stimulus) = happy baby (conditioned response)
operant conditioning
learn as a result of consequences for your actions
negative reinforcement
- mother feeds baby to avoid them crying
- overtime pleasure of being fed associated with primary caregiver
primary drive
biological needs we are born with, not learnt
attachment as a secondary drive
we create attachment to fulfil primary drives
AO3 weakness (evidence)
- contradictory evidence in the form of animal studies
- Harlow found that monkeys were more likely to attach to a cloth mother over a wire mother even if the cloth one didn’t have milk
- shows attachment based on comfort not food
- lacks inter observer reliability
- CA: animal study so can’t be applied to humans
A03 weakness (outdated)
- drive reduction theory used in 1940’s but no longer accepted by psychologists
- can only explain a limited number of behaviours, many things people do that don’t reduce comfort (bungee jumping)
- doesn’t explain secondary reinforcers, they don’t directly reduce comfort but are reinforcing ( money)
drive reduction
have a drive to respond to psychological/physical needs to maintain comfort
AO3 weakness (simplicity)
- approach is over simplistic
- suggests food is only drive for attachment
- ignores other factors such as comfort, sensitive responding, reciprocity
- reductionist
- CA: easier to understand
