learning psychology

• operant conditioning ao1


  learn through consequence

  Skinner - applied scientific principles

  ABC

  A / antecedent - stimulus to trigger behaviour

  B / behaviour

  C / consequence
• o.c punishments & reinforcements


  positive reinforcement - give reward to encourage

  positive punishment - give something unpleasant to discourage

  negative reinforcement - remove something unpleasant encourage

  negative punishment - remove something pleasant to discourage
• o.c Thorndike 1911


  instrumental learning

  law of effect - response following positive consequence

  law of excercise - more often response is performed, more likely to be repeated
• o.c behaviour modification


  rewards for desired behaviour

  become more selective over time

  used to treat adhd or ocd
• operant conditioning strengths


  credible - foundational research

  scientific

  reliable
• operant conditioning weaknesses


  reductionist

  lack ecological validity
• social learning theory ao1


  learn through observation

  we watch & imitate models

  4 stages

  • attention
  • retention
  • reproduction
  • motivation

  Bandura, Ross & Ross
• social learning theory ao3


  contributes to aggresion & gender development, used in treatments eg phobias ✅

  reductionist, ignores biological factors ❌
• slt Bandura et al 1961 aim


  exposure to agg would influence behaviour

  gender diff = boys more influenced
• bandura procedure


  72 ppts

  8 groups on baseline agg score, 1 control

  • non agg model
  • agg model
  • same sex or different sex

  child alone in room of toys & model

  agg is verbal and physical

  covert observation
• bandura results


  agg models - more p&v agg, more non-imitative agg

  male hade more influence

  girls more verbal aggression
• bandura ao3


  lab based and reliable✅

  unethical, wrong to manipulate children this way❌