The Learning Approach

Question 1

What are the 2 components of the learning approach and what do they include?

Answer 1

1. The behaviourist approach- only includes classical and operant conditioning
2. Social learning theory

Question 2

What was Pavlov’s research into classical conditioning?

(The behaviourist approach)

Answer 2

Carried out research to see if laboratory dogs could learn to salivate in response to a bell through classical conditioning

Question 3

What is the order of classical conditioning?

(The behaviourist approach)

Answer 3

Stage 1: before conditioning
Unconditioned stimulus (UCS)= Unconditioned response (UCR)

Stage 2: during conditioning
Neutral stimulus (NS) + Unconditioned stimulus (UCS) = Unconditioned response (UCR)

Stage 3: after conditioning
Conditioned stimulus (CS) = Conditioned response (CR)

Question 4

What does extinction mean?

(The behaviourist approach)

Answer 4

If the conditioned stimulus is continually presented without the unconditioned stimulus, then the conditioned response gradually dies out or extinguishes

Question 5

What does spontaneous recovery mean?

(The behaviourist approach)

Answer 5

If a conditioned response is not reinforced, it became extinguished. But after a period of rest, the response may suddenly reappear

Question 6

What does discrimination mean?

(The behaviourist approach)

Answer 6

The ability to distinguish between a controlled stimulus and other similar stimuli that don’t signal an unconditioned stimulus

Question 7

What does generalisation mean?

(The behaviourist approach)

Answer 7

Learning a conditioned response to something then relating the response to all things associated with it

Question 8

What does one trial learning mean?

(The behaviourist approach)

Answer 8

When conditioning occurs immediately after one trial only

Question 9

What are the 2 reinforcers of operant conditioning?

(The behaviourist approach)

Answer 9

1. Primary reinforcers
2. Secondary reinforcers

Question 10

What are primary reinforcers?

(The behaviourist approach)

Answer 10

Fulfilling a biological need, such as food, drink, shelter and pleasure

Question 11

What are secondary reinforcers?

(The behaviourist approach)

Answer 11

When a particular stimulus reinforces a certain behaviour via association with a primary reinforcer

Question 12

What are 2 types of reinforcement schedules?

(The behaviourist approach)

Answer 12

1. Continuous reinforcement
2. Partial reinforcement

Question 13

What is a continuous reinforcement schedule?

(The behaviourist approach)

Answer 13

Desired behaviour is reinforced every time it occurs- may result in a stronger response

Question 14

What is a partial reinforcement schedule?

(The behaviourist approach)

Answer 14

Response is reinforced only as part of the time

Question 15

What are the 3 types of reinforcement?

(The behaviourist approach)

Answer 15

1. Positive reinforcement
2. Negative reinforcement
3. Punishment

Question 16

What is positive reinforcement?

(The behaviourist approach)

Answer 16

Increasing the frequency of a desired behaviour by giving pleasant consequences

Question 17

What is negative reinforcement?

(The behaviourist approach)

Answer 17

Increasing the frequency of a desired behaviour by removing something unpleasant

Question 18

What is punishment?

(The behaviourist approach)

Answer 18

Decreasing the frequency of an undesired behaviour by giving unpleasant consequences

Question 19

If the point is:

A strength of the behaviourist approach is that there’s lots of credible evidence to support it.

What is the evidence and link?

Answer 19

Evidence- Little Albert had no major fears. Through the process of classical conditioning, he was taught to have a phobia of a white rat and generalised this to other white fluffy objects. Over a total of 7-8 pairings, researchers presented Albert with a white rat and a loud noise (UCS). As a result, eventually just giving little Albert the white rat by itself caused extreme anxiety, as the rat (CS) was associated with a lot sound (UCS) to create fear (CR).

Link- This means the approach has evidence to validate its claims and can be seen as falsifiable.

Question 20

If the point is:

A strength of the behaviourist approach is that it’s praised for being extremely scientific.

What is the evidence and link?

Answer 20

Evidence- The approach uses both objective and falsifiable methods to study only observable behaviour that underline stimulus response links. For example, focusing on just the behavioural responses of spider phobics in response to spiders rather than internal cognitions.

Link- This means the behaviourist approach is likely to be trustworthy and reliable, deserving of respect.

Question 21

If the point is:

A weakness of the behaviourist approach is that there’s methodological issues with some of the research in the behaviourist approach.

What is the evidence, explanation and link?

Answer 21

Evidence- For example, most of Pavlov’s research was on dogs, meaning it is hard to generalise the findings to humans.

Explanation- Similarly, studies like Little Albert were individual case studies, making it hard to generalise findings to others.

Link- All these issues limit the extent to which we can use this research to support the behaviourist explanations of human behaviour.

Question 22

If the point is:

A strength of the behaviourist approach is that it has made significant contributions to help society, including accessible ways to treat mental health problems.

What is the evidence and link?

Answer 22

Evidence- For example, systematic desensitisation

Link- This means that the approach has ultimately benefitted society and can be seen as extremely useful.

Question 23

What does imitation mean?

(Social learning theory)

Answer 23

Copying a behaviour

Question 24

What does identification mean?

(Social learning theory)

Answer 24

Identifying with some, maybe the same gender as you, or someone you look up to.

Question 25

What does modelling mean?

(Social learning theory)

Answer 25

Modelling behaviour- your role model shows you how to behave

Question 26

What is vicarious reinforcement?

(Social learning theory)

Answer 26

• When an individual observes a role model being rewarded for a behaviour
• They are then motivated to imitate this behaviour in the hope of receiving a similar rewarding consequence

Question 27

What is vicarious punishment?

(Social learning theory)

Answer 27

When a punishment is observed in someone else and this stops a behaviour being imitated.

Question 28

What is the mediational process?

(Social learning theory)

Answer 28

1. Attention- Noticing a behaviour
2. Retention- How well it’s remembered
3. Reproduction- Perform the behaviour
4. Motivation- If the behaviour is rewarded or punished

Question 29

If the point is:

A strength of the social learning theory is that it has credible research evidence, such as that carried out by Bandura.

What is the evidence and link?

Answer 29

Evidence-
1. To examine the effect of continual influence of a role model
2. There were 36 males and 36 females
3. 2 adults, a male and female, played the role of the role models
4. Half of the experimental groups observed an aggressive model whereas the other half saw a non aggressive model
5. The groups were further subdivided into watching the same or opposite sex model
6. Participants were put into a room with a model who would act according to their role
7. In the room there was a bobo doll, hammer and other toys
8. The aggressive model would shout at and attack the bobo doll whereas the non aggressive model would sit and not do anything to the doll
9. After witnessing this for 10 minutes, the participants would be taken to another room with similar toys by themselves where they could be observed
10. In between these 2 rooms they would be held in a similar room where they were told they couldn’t play with anything for 2 minutes- this was the aggression arousal stage
11. The children would be left alone with the toys for 20 minutes, where they were observed by researchers from behind 1 way glass
12. Results were- children who’d seen the aggressive model were significantly more aggressive than those in the control or nonaggressive condition
13. Boys acted more aggressively than girls, mostly in the physical categories
14. There was also a greater level of imitation when the model was the same sex as the participant

Link- This means we can be more confident that this approach can be used to help explain human behaviour.

Question 30

If the point is:

A strength of the social learning theory is that its research, such as Bandura, uses scientific methods and is highly reliable due to its use of standardised procedures.

What is the evidence and link?

Answer 30

Evidence- For example, in Bandura’s study the bobo doll was the same, all the children did the activities inside the 3 rooms and all children observed behaviour for 20 minutes.

Link- This means that social learning theory research can be easily replicated to check the consistency of findings.

Question 31

If the point is:

A weakness of the social learning theory is that research, like Bandura’s, does not accurately reflect real life.

What is the evidence and link?

Answer 31

Evidence- For example, in Bandura’s study, the child was placed in a room with strangers and the set up of the experiment isn’t that realistic.

Link- This means that, although the research demonstrated social learning theory in action, it’s difficult to show cause and effect of role model behaviour in real life as extraneous variables such as the opportunity and materials to imitate the behaviour are uncontrolled.

Question 32

What are the evaluations of the behaviourist approach?

Answer 32

+ Lots of credible evidence to support it

+ Praised for being extremely scientific

– There’s methodological issues with some of the research in this approach

+ It has made significant contributions to help society, including accessible ways to treat mental health problems

Question 33

What are the evaluations of the social learning theory?

Answer 33

+ Has credible research evidence, such as that carried out by Bandura

+ Its research, such as Bandura, used scientific methods and is highly reliable due to its use of standardised procedures

– Research, like Bandura, does not accurately reflect real life