learning approach

• learning by association


  classical conditioning
• behaviour is shaped and maintained by consequences

  operant conditioning
• positive reinforcement 


  some actions produce a direct reward. A reward is a positive reinforcement, so that action is likely to be repeated in the future
• negative reinforcement


  when behaviour is produced to avoid something unpleasant
• punishment 


  an unpleasant consequence of behaviour
• skinner


  used a rat in his research to establish the principles of positive and negative reinforcement of behaviour
• social learning theory 


  the theory that we learn social behaviour by observing and imitating and by being rewarded or punished
• what other ways can learning occur other than classical and operant conditioning?

  indirectly through observation in imitation of other peoples behaviour
• what are key processes in the social learning theory?

  modelling learning through observation, vicarious reinforcement, and imutation
• what is modelling?


  imitating the behaviour of a role model
• what is vicarious reinforcement?

  when a person's behaviour changes based on consequences that happen to an observed model preferably positive consequences
• what is imitation?


  when the observer displays the same actions as the model which is more likely to happen if the observer identifies with the model.
• what is learning through observation?

  when the observer actively focuses attention on the models behaviour and watches how its performed
• strength of social learning theory

  Bobo doll study - shows a child can imitate an aggressive role model, more likely to imitate a model when they identify with the model.
• what are the key terms in classical conditioning?

  NS- neutral stimulus, UCS - unconditioned stimulus, CS - conditioned stimulus, UCR - unconditioned response, CR - conditioned response
• what is a neutral stimulus?


  an event that does not produce a response
• what is an unconditioned stimulus?


  an event that produces unlearned reflex response
• what is a conditioned stimulus?

  an event that produces a learned response
• what happens before conditioning?

  NS - no response UCS - UCR
• what happens during conditioning?

  NS + UCS + UCR
• what happens after conditioning?

  CS + CR
• what is extrinsic motivation?


  engaging in a behaviour to gain external reward e.g. money
• what is intrinsic motivation?

  engaging in a behaviour because it is personally rewarding
• what is one key assumption of the learning approach?

  behaviour can be learnt through observation and imitation