The Approaches: The Learning Approaches Flashcards
Name two learning approaches
Behaviourism and Social Learning Theory
Identify 3 assumptions of the behaviourist approach
- Humans are born as a blank slate
- All behaviour is learnt from the environment
- Free will is not possible
Where do behaviourists say behaviour is learnt from?
Environment
Why do behaviourists believe animals can replace humans in research?
As they learn in the same way
What are the two main theories of behaviourism?
Classical and operant conditioning
Classical conditioning is where we learn through…
Association
Operant conditioning is where we learn through…
Consequence (reinforcement and punishments)
Learning through association is known as…
Classical conditioning
Learning through consequence is known as…
Operant conditioning
Tim picks up rubbish in his school playground. His teacher gives him a gold star.
What type of reinforcement is this an example of?
Positive reinforcement
Positive reinforcement means the behaviour is _______________ to be repeated
Likely
Negative reinforcement means the behaviour is ______________ to be repeated
Likely
Punishment means the behaviour is ________________ to be repeated
Unlikely
Tim completes his Brainscape decks to avoid his teacher shouting at him so badly it makes him question his decision to take Psychology in the first place.
How would behaviourists explain this behaviour?
Negative reinforcement
According to positive reinforcement, WHY is behaviour likely to be REPEATED?
To receive the same reward
According to negative reinforcement, WHY is a behaviour likely to be REPEATED
To avoid a negative consequence
Which researcher is responsible for investigating classical conditioning?
Pavlov
In Pavlov’s research, what was unconditioned stimulus?
The food
In Pavlov’s research, what was the unconditioned response?
The dog salivating
In Pavlov’s research, what was the bell?
Neutral stimulus
In Pavlov’s research, who were the participants?
Dogs
During Pavlov’s research, what did the dogs learn to associate?
The food (UCS) + the bell (NS)
What became the conditioned response?
Salivation
What was the conditioned stimulus?
The bell
Which researcher investigated operant conditioning?
Skinner
How were rats positive reinforced in Skinner’s research?
Every time they pulled a lever, they were given food
How were rats negatively reinforced in Skinner’s research
Pulling the lever stopped the electric current in the floor
Positive reinforcement is the only type of reinforcement which increases the likelihood of behaviour being repeated.
True or false
False - negative reinforcement ALSO increases the likelihood the behaviour will be repeated
AO3: If behaviourists believe all behaviour is controlled by stimulus, response, and association, how could this be criticised?
Determinism (environmental)
AO3: What are two practical applications of the behaviourist approach?
Systematic desensitisation and flooding (treatments of phobias)
AO3: How could Pavlov and Skinner research be criticised?
Animal bias
AO3: What does behaviourism reduce human behaviour down to?
Stimulus, response and association
Social learning theory was proposed by which researcher?
Bandura
Social learning theory assumes behavioural learning is through …
Observation and imitation of a model
Social learning theory proposed another type of reinforcement…
What is this called?
Vicarious reinforcement
Name two FEATURES of the social learning theory
Observational learning + the mediational processes
What does ARRM in the mediational processes refer to?
Attention
Retention
Reproduction
Motivation (or reinforcements)
The mediational processes occur between _________ and _________
Stimulus (observation) and response (imitation)
AO3: What is one strength of Bandura’s research into SLT
Scientific methods
AO3: What makes Bandura’s bobo dolls study scientific?
High control over extraneous variables (using the same model in both conditions)
AO3: How was one extraneous variable controlled by Bandura
Using the same model in both conditions
What did Bandura’s research find?
Children in the aggressive condition had significantly higher physical and verbal aggression
