The Learning Approach (from 1911) Flashcards
Introduction to Learning Approach:
- originally from America in early 20th century
- largely work of Pavlov, Skinner and Watson
- they rejected Freud and Biological approach of the time
- focused on environmental determinism
- they saw the environment as the main influence on all our behaviour
What are some assumptions of the Learning Approach?
- all behaviour is learned, all we have at birth is capacity to learn
- a person is a product of their environment and born a blank slate
- this places learning on the (extreme) Nurture side of the argument
- in order for psychology to be scientific it should focus on observable behaviour which can be objectively measured, rather then on things like cognitive processes which can only be inferred
What mnemonic is used to remember learning approach?
CIA
What does CIA stand for
C - learning through CONSEQUENCES of behaviours (operant conditioning)
I - learning through the IMITATION of the behaviour of others (social learning theory)
A - learning through ASSOCIATIONS between stimuli (classical conditioning)
What are the two sections of the learning approach?
1- Behaviourist Approach (Pavlov, Skinner and Watson)
2- Social Learning Theory (Bandura)
What are the three stages of Classical Conditioning
1- UCS = UCR
2- NS + UCS = UCR
3- CS = CR
Summarise Pavlov’s research into Classical Conditioning
- carried out research to find out if dogs could salivate in response to a bell
- based on idea some things dogs don’t need to learn (salivating at food)
- it is an unconditioned response
- Pavlov measured volume of saliva produced in response to food and/or bell
Define : extinction
If the conditioned stimulus is continually presented without the unconditioned stimulus then the conditioned response gradually dies out
Extinction using the example of pavlovs dogs =
Salivation died out after no food presented
Define : spontaneous recovery
If a conditioned response is not reinforced, it becomes extinguished. But after a period of rest the response may suddenly reappear
Spontaneous recovery using the example of pavlovs dogs =
Salivation returned to bell after re-pairing with food
Define : Discrimination
The CR is produced only by presentation of the original stimulus, it does not extend to similar stimuli
Discrimination using the example of pavlovs dogs =
Only salivated in response to a particular tone of bell, not all bells
Define : Generalisation
Extension of the CS from the original stimulus to similar stimuli
Generalisation using the example of pavlovs dogs =
Salivating at any bell
Define : One trial learning
When conditioning occurs immediately, after one trial only
Give an example of One trial learning
Food poisoning. You would never want the food again
Briefly describe Skinner’s research into operant conditioning
- learning from consequences is ‘operant conditioning’
- skinners theory is that the likelihood of future behaviour is determined by the consequences of past behaviour
- throughout his research he used what has become known as “Skinner boxes’ with pigeons and rats, and carefully measured the frequency of selected behaviour
Define : Primary reinforcers
Anything that fulfils a basic/biological need. It is something that is reinforcing in its own right. Any behaviour that leads to a basic need being met is likely to be repeated
What is an example of a primary reinforcer
In the case of attachment bonds, the primary reinforcer is food because it satisfies hunger
Define : secondary reinforcers
Do not inherently reinforce, it only becomes a reinforcer because it is associated with a primary reinforcer
What is an example of a secondary reinforcer
In the case of attachment, food/milk is the primary reinforcer and the feeder/caregiver is the secondary reinforcer
What is continuous reinforcement ?
when the desired behaviour is reinforced every single time it occurs e.g. a rat gets a food pellet every time it presses the lever
What is partial reinforcement ?
When the response is reinforced only part or some of the time. There are different types of partial reinforcement schedules. Some increase repetition of behaviour mote than others e.g. a rat gets a food pellet after 5 lever presses (fixed ratio schedule) or after a number of lever presses thar changes all the time (variable ratio schedule)
What is positive reinforcement?
Increasing the frequency of desired behaviour by giving pleasant consequences
How is positive reinforcement demonstrated in Skinners research ?
by putting the rat in a cage with a lever it can press. The lever is rigged up to a mechanism that dispenses food, so when the rat presses the lever it gets a bit of rat food. Sooner or later, the rat will press the lever by accident and food will appear. After a few similar occurrences the rat will connect the two. It will then start pressing the lever to get food. The presentation of food has acted as a positive reinforcement
What is negative reinforcement?
Increasing the frequency of a desired behaviour by removing something unpleasant
How is negative reinforcement demonstrated in Skinners research
When the cage was set up so that the floor could be electrified and the lever now switches off the current. Once the floor is electrified the rat will start bouncing about, possibly hitting the lever. Eventually learning to hit the lever immediately when current on. Skinner was not rewarding the rat, he was reinforcing by taking away something bad - hence negative reinforcement
What is punishment?
Decreasing the frequency of an undesired behaviour by giving unpleasant consequences
How is punishment demonstrated in Skinners research ?
Skinner changes the mechanism so that when the rat presses the lever, instead of receiving a food pellet, it is given an electric shock to its paw. Very quickly, the rat will stop pressing the lever. The electric shock has acted as a punishment which had the effect of weakening then extinguishing the lever pressing behaviour
Summarise evaluations of the behaviourism learning approach
- research to support- little Albert - Watson + Raynor
- praised for being scientific - used objective + falsifiable methods
- methodological issues - Pavlov used dogs - cannot extrapolate
- good practical applications - treatment of phobias etc
- environmental determinism- ignores influence of other factors e.g. genetics + free will
What are the 5 main terms of SLT?
- Imitation
- Identification
- Modelling
- Vicarious reinforcement
- Vicarious punishment
What does imitation mean?
This is when an individual reproduces the behaviour that they have observed a role model performing.
what does identification mean?
Means that the observer respects/admirer the role model and aspires to be like them or sees themselves as similar to the role model. Identification increases the motivation to imitate a role model
what does modelling mean?
Refers to things we see or hear models doing/saying etc. Models can be real people we have in our lives celebrities we see on TV etc and filmed models too. Attitudes as well as behaviours can be modelled
What does vicarious reinforcement mean?
This occurs 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
What does vicarious punishment mean?
Occurs when an individual observes a role model being punished for their behaviour. Observing a role model being punished for performing a particular behaviour reduces the motivation to imitate that behaviour because the observer does not wish to be punished like the role model was
What are the 4 key cognitive elements in SLT?
- Attention
- Retention
- Reproduction
- Motivation
What is the relevance of Attention to SLT
The observer has to concentrate on the models behaviour if it is to be imitated. Identification with the role model is important here
What is the relevance of retention to SLT
The behaviour has to be remembered and stored if it is going to be imitated later
What is the relevance of reproduction to SLT
The observer must be capable of imitating/reproducing the behaviour they have observed
What is the relevance of motivation to SLT
The observer must be capable of imitating/reproducing the behaviour they have observed
Summarise Bandura’s research
Bandura exposed young children to adult models who behaved either in an aggressive or unaggressive way towards an inflatable clown doll (bobo doll). Bandura wanted to see if the children imitated the behaviour they observed. They did, but what and how much they imitated was influenced by the gender of the child and role model
Summarise evaluations of the SLT
- credible research - Banduras study (72 children - 36 b+g)
- lacks ecological validity - aggression highly scripted - difficult to show cause and effect
- soft determinism-claims theory isn’t inevitable- incomplete explanation
- useful practical applications- e.g. watershed
- cognitive factors have been inferred so cannot measure extent of their influence
