Approaches (P2)

• Classical Conditioning - Pavlov


  Pavlov Dogs- associate a neutral stimulus (bell) with unconditioned stimulus (food). This results in a conditioned response (salivation) due to the conditioned stimulus (food). Repeat exposure leads to a learned and uncontrollable behaviour.
• Classical Conditioning explains.....

  The acquisition of phobias and the development of attachment
• Operant Conditioning - Skinner


  Skinners Rats - he found that three types of reinforcement will affect behaviour: positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement and punishment
• Support for the behaviourist approach - Pavlov and Skinner

  Pavlov and Skinners research rejected introspection and encouraged research that focused on more objective dimensions of behaviour (supports a more scientific prospect). Has also helped psychology's credibility into being a science.
• Evidence against the behaviourist approach

  Behaviourists have been criticised due to its limited view regarding the origins of behaviour, ignoring alternate explanations such as the role of cognition and emotional factors
• Support for the behaviourist approach


  Has made a significant contribution to the modern understanding of mental illness. EG the development of therapies such as systematic desensitisation. Demonstrating real-world applications
• Social Learning Theory: Bandura 


  -SLT was first put forward by Bandura in 1971 as an update to classical and operant conditioning theories. SLT emphasises the role of cognitive processes in learning, not just stimulus response relationships
• SLT: Key concepts

  SLT suggests we learn by observing others through vicarious reinforcement. Then we are influenced to imitate that behaviour. We also pay particular attention to role models and learn from them as they are people we identify most with.
• SLT: Mediational Processes 


  Learning and doing the behaviour seen. Done by attention, retention, motivation and then reproduction
• Bandura Bobo Doll Experiment 


  He conducted research on the transmission of human behaviour through observation.
• Bobo Doll Research aim and procedure

  Aim= to see if children would learn and imitate aggression from watching adult role models. Procedure= Children observed either an adult being aggressive to the doll, or a demonstration of non aggressive behaviour towards it. The children were exposed to mild frustration before being left in a room with a Bobo doll.
• Bobo Doll research results and conclusion

  Results= Less aggression was seen in the group who watched the non-aggressive adult behaviour and vice versa. Conclusion= Children exposed to aggressive role models are likely to imitate their behaviour.
• Research support for SLT

  SLT can have useful applications. For example social skills training aims to model positive behaviour to reduce criminal behaviour.
• Evidence against SLT

  Tends to ignore the role of biological factors in shaping behaviour
• Evidence against SLT

  Much of the evidence for SLT comes from lab studies. Thus it may explain behaviour in controlled settings but may not relate to real-life behaviour in the same way.