Revision ex. RM

• AO1- learning approach, behaviourism:

  • only concerned with behaviour that can be observed and measures, not mental processes
  • Pavlov classical conditioning- conditioned dogs to salivate when a bell rings, showed a neutral stimulus can come to elicit a new learned response through association
  • Skinner research into operant conditioning- rats and pigeons in skinner boxes, when activated lever, rewarded with food pellet, desirable consequence led to behaviour being repeated, if lever avoided shock, behaviour also repeated
  • negative (avoid negative outcome) & positive (get positive outcome) reinforcement (more likely) & punishment (negative outcome for behaviour, less likely)
• AO3- learning approach, behaviourism:

  • Strength- careful measurement of observable behaviour in lab, emphasised importance of scientific processes, e.g. objectivity and replication
  • Limitation- environmental determinism, all behaviour determined by past experiences, Skinner 'free will is illusion', we impose a sense of having made a decision but past conditioning did, extreme position that ignores influence of conscious decison-making processes (suggested by cognitive approach)
  • Limitation- although skinner box has high control, ethical issues, stressful and aversive conditions may have affected reaction, questions validity as behaviour may not have been 'normal'
  • Strength- real-life application, e.g. token economy systems (tokens for privileges) demonstrate operant conditioning, used in prisons and psych wards
• AO1- learning approach, social learning theory

  • Bandura, agreed with behaviourist approach that learning occurs through experience, but also in social context through observation and imitation of others' behaviour
  • Vicarious reinforcement- observe other behaviour and consequences, rewarded behaviour more likely to be replicated
  • Meditational processes in learning: attention, retention, motor reproduction, and motivation
  • identification, children more likely to imitate those they identify with
  • 1st bandura study: watched adult being aggressive to bobo doll or non-aggressively, when given own doll, children who saw aggression most aggressive
  • children saw adult either punished, rewarded, or no consequence, when given own, children who saw it rewarded much more aggressive
  • shows children likely to imitate violence if observed in adult role model, also more likely if rewarded (vicarious reinforcement)