Week 7 - Learning Perspective

Question 1

define behaviourism and describe conditioning theories

Answer 1

Behaviourism -
the theory that human and animal behaviour can be explained in terms of conditioning, without appeal to thoughts or feelings, and that psychological disorders are best treated by altering behaviour patterns.

Conditioning Theories -
Focus on observable events. Emphasises two types of learning classical and instrumental conditioning

Question 2

describe classical conditioning and the Law of Effect and Operant/Instrumental condition

Answer 2

Classical conditioning-
neutral stimulus CS > another stimulus US that already elicits a response UR > After repeated pairing the CS elicits a response alone CR.

Law of Effect -
Linking an action, an outcome and a change in the likelihood of future action.

Operant/Instrumental conditioning-
An active learning where a positive reaction to a persons behaviour increases the likelihood of the behaviour repeating and a negative response reduces the likelihood.
A behaviour is followed by an outcome (positive-reinforcer or aversive-punisher)

Question 3

identify key Social Cognitive theories

Answer 3

Social reinforcement-
acceptance, smiles, hugs, praise, approval, interest and attention.

Vicarious emotional arousal - ‘empathy’
This creates an ‘opportunity’ for learning (vicarious classical conditioning)

Vicarious Reinforcement -
if you observe someone do something followed by a reinforcement you are likely to imitate the behaviour yourself.

Efficacy expectancy/ self-efficacy -
The confidence in having the ability to carry out a desired action (as knowledge of what to do to solve the problem alone isn’t enough)

Observational Learning -
One persons performs an action and another person observes it and acquires the ability to repeat it.

Social cognitive learning -
Expectations cause behaviour, actions follow from thinking.

Question 4

describe key theories by Dollard and Miller, Rotter and Bandura

Answer 4

Dollard and Miller -
Suggested attachment becomes a learned behaviour acquired through classical and operant conditioning. For attachment to occur, behaviours are learned rather than innate.

Rotter -
People can learn from social reinforcers (acceptance, hugs etc)

Bandura -
Social learning theorist - Reinforcers lead to expectancies about what actions are effective in what settings. Argued that people know what to do but need to believe they can do it (efficacy expectation)

Question 5

identify some of the applications/therapies associated with Learning theories.

Answer 5

Systematic desensitisation -
a combo of relaxation and exposure therapy

Exposure treatments -
using ‘extinction’ from conditioning

Contingency management -
reinforce desired alternative actions and simultaneously reduce even further any reinforcement of the undesired action

Modelling -
based therapy for skills deficits - People can often develop needed skills by watching a good model.

Behavioural therapy techniques