The Approaches: The Learning Approaches

Question 1

Name two learning approaches

Answer 1

Behaviourism and Social Learning Theory

Question 2

Identify 3 assumptions of the behaviourist approach

Answer 2

1. Humans are born as a blank slate
2. All behaviour is learnt from the environment
3. Free will is not possible

Question 3

Where do behaviourists say behaviour is learnt from?

Answer 3

Environment

Question 4

Why do behaviourists believe animals can replace humans in research?

Answer 4

As they learn in the same way

Question 5

What are the two main theories of behaviourism?

Answer 5

Classical and operant conditioning

Question 6

Classical conditioning is where we learn through…

Answer 6

Association

Question 7

Operant conditioning is where we learn through…

Answer 7

Consequence (reinforcement and punishments)

Question 8

Learning through association is known as…

Answer 8

Classical conditioning

Question 9

Learning through consequence is known as…

Answer 9

Operant conditioning

Question 10

Tim picks up rubbish in his school playground. His teacher gives him a gold star.

What type of reinforcement is this an example of?

Answer 10

Positive reinforcement

Question 11

Positive reinforcement means the behaviour is _______________ to be repeated

Answer 11

Likely

Question 12

Negative reinforcement means the behaviour is ______________ to be repeated

Answer 12

Likely

Question 13

Punishment means the behaviour is ________________ to be repeated

Answer 13

Unlikely

Question 14

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?

Answer 14

Negative reinforcement

Question 15

According to positive reinforcement, WHY is behaviour likely to be REPEATED?

Answer 15

To receive the same reward

Question 16

According to negative reinforcement, WHY is a behaviour likely to be REPEATED

Answer 16

To avoid a negative consequence

Question 17

Which researcher is responsible for investigating classical conditioning?

Answer 17

Pavlov

Question 18

In Pavlov’s research, what was unconditioned stimulus?

Answer 18

The food

Question 19

In Pavlov’s research, what was the unconditioned response?

Answer 19

The dog salivating

Question 20

In Pavlov’s research, what was the bell?

Answer 20

Neutral stimulus

Question 21

In Pavlov’s research, who were the participants?

Answer 21

Dogs

Question 22

During Pavlov’s research, what did the dogs learn to associate?

Answer 22

The food (UCS) + the bell (NS)

Question 23

What became the conditioned response?

Answer 23

Salivation

Question 24

What was the conditioned stimulus?

Answer 24

The bell

Question 25

Which researcher investigated operant conditioning?

Answer 25

Skinner

Question 26

How were rats positive reinforced in Skinner’s research?

Answer 26

Every time they pulled a lever, they were given food

Question 27

How were rats negatively reinforced in Skinner’s research

Answer 27

Pulling the lever stopped the electric current in the floor

Question 28

Positive reinforcement is the only type of reinforcement which increases the likelihood of behaviour being repeated.

True or false

Answer 28

False - negative reinforcement ALSO increases the likelihood the behaviour will be repeated

Question 29

AO3: If behaviourists believe all behaviour is controlled by stimulus, response, and association, how could this be criticised?

Answer 29

Determinism (environmental)

Question 30

AO3: What are two practical applications of the behaviourist approach?

Answer 30

Systematic desensitisation and flooding (treatments of phobias)

Question 31

AO3: How could Pavlov and Skinner research be criticised?

Answer 31

Animal bias

Question 32

AO3: What does behaviourism reduce human behaviour down to?

Answer 32

Stimulus, response and association

Question 33

Social learning theory was proposed by which researcher?

Answer 33

Bandura

Question 34

Social learning theory assumes behavioural learning is through …

Answer 34

Observation and imitation of a model

Question 35

Social learning theory proposed another type of reinforcement…

What is this called?

Answer 35

Vicarious reinforcement

Question 36

Name two FEATURES of the social learning theory

Answer 36

Observational learning + the mediational processes

Question 37

What does ARRM in the mediational processes refer to?

Answer 37

Attention
Retention
Reproduction
Motivation (or reinforcements)

Question 38

The mediational processes occur between _________ and _________

Answer 38

Stimulus (observation) and response (imitation)

Question 39

AO3: What is one strength of Bandura’s research into SLT

Answer 39

Scientific methods

Question 40

AO3: What makes Bandura’s bobo dolls study scientific?

Answer 40

High control over extraneous variables (using the same model in both conditions)

Question 41

AO3: How was one extraneous variable controlled by Bandura

Answer 41

Using the same model in both conditions

Question 42

What did Bandura’s research find?

Answer 42

Children in the aggressive condition had significantly higher physical and verbal aggression

Question 43

Why is the behaviourist explanation of human behaviour criticised for being environmental deterministic?

Answer 43

This is because the approach states that an individual’s behaviour is controlled by external factors such as learning through stimulus, response and association (classical conditioning) or being rewarded for a behaviour (operant conditioning) that inevitably cause behaviour. Therefore, this neglects the role of free will, and choice that
individuals have; this could leave individuals feeling like they have no control over their behaviour. Limiting the appropriateness of the behaviourist explanation of human behaviour.

Question 44

Why is the behaviourist explanation of human behaviour an important part of applied Psychology?

Answer 44

The principles of the theory, that behaviour is caused by classical conditioning has led to the treatment of systematic desensitisation. This is effective in treating phobias by helping the individual to unlearn their maladaptive association to a phobic stimulus by gradually exposing them to their phobia whilst they apply relaxation techniques. Therefore, the behaviourist explanation of human behaviour is an important part of applied psychology as it helps to treat people in the real world.

Question 45

Why is the behaviourist explanation of human behaviour criticised for being environmental reductionist?

Answer 45

This is because the approach reduces complex human behaviour down to simple basic units for example, learning through stimulus, response and association (classical conditioning) or rewards and reinforcements (operant conditioning). This neglects a holistic approach, which would take in to account how a person’s culture and social context would influence and explain human behaviour. Therefore, the behaviourist explanation of human behaviour may lack validity, as it does not allow us to understand the behaviour in context.