Learning approaches

• Behaviourists say that all behaviour is learnt:

  1. Classical conditioning - learning through association
  2. Operant conditioning - learning through reinforcement
  3. Social learning theory - learning through observation

  For purpose of approaches paper 2 - behaviourism will only cover classical conditioning and operant conditioning
• Tabula rasa

  We are born as a 'blank slate' - therefore we learn through experience
• Assumptions

  • Born as a 'blank slate' - tabula rasa
  • Extreme 'nurture' end of nature- nurture debate
  • Argues that in order for psychology to be scientific, it should focus on observable behaviour which can be objectively measured, rather than on things like cognitive processes which can only be inferred - rejected idea of introspection
  • Lab exp are the best ways to achieve this
• Classical conditioning - pavlov

  Little albert (watson and rayner) 1920
• How it works...

  Before conditioning:

  Bell (neutral stimulus) -> dog - nothing

  Food (unconditioned stimulus) -> dog - salivation (unconditioned response)

  
  

  Bell: neutral stimuli (NS)

  Food: unconditioned stimulus (UCS)

  Salivation: unconditioned response (UCR)
• During conditioning:

  Bell (neutral stimulus) + food (unconditioned stimuli) -> dog - salivation ( unconditioned response)

  
  

  Bell: neutral stimuli (NS)

  Food: unconditioned stimuli (UCS)

  Salivation: unconditioned response (UCR)
• After conditioning:

  Bell (conditioned stimulus) -> dog - salivation (conditioned response)

  
  

  Bell: conditioned stimulus (CS)

  Salivation: conditioned response (CR)
• Little albert:

  Before conditioning:

  Rat (neutral stimulus) -> nothing

  Noise (unconditioned stimulus) -> fear (unconditioned response)
• During conditioning:

  Rat(neutral stimulus) + noise(unconditioned stimuli) -> fear (unconditioned response)
• After conditioning:

  Rat(conditioned stimulus) -> fear (conditioned response)
• Extinction

  Pavlov discovered that unlike the unconditioned response, the conditioned response does not become permanently established as a response. After a few presentations of the conditioned stimulus in the absence of unconditioned stimulus it loses its ability to produce the conditioned response.
• Spontaneous recovery

  Following extinction, if the conditioned stimulus and unconditioned stimulus are then paired together once again, the link between them is made much more quickly.
• Stimulus generalisation

  Pavlov discovered that once an animal has been conditioned, they will also respond to other stimuli that are similar to the conditioned stimulus
• Operant conditioning - skinner
• Reinforcement

  Something in the environment that strengthens (or reinforces) a particular behaviour and so makes more likely to recur
• Positive reinforcement


  Rewarding every time after a specific behaviour
• negative reinforcement

  the idea of taking away an unwanted stimulus in order to encourage good behavior
• SLT (social learning theory) - learning through observations

  psychologist - Bandura
• why is SLT different to conditioning

  SLT is not about learning, it involves cognitive processes such as watching, paying attention, remembering, choice of role models
• (ao1) social learning theory

  • people learn behaviour through observation and imitation of others
  • suggests learning happens through indirect reinforcement
  • vicarious reinforcement happens through observing someone else being reinforced for their behaviour
• process of SLT

  4 mediational processes in learning: (ARMM acronym)

  • Attention - the extent to which we notice certain behaviours
  • Retention - how well behaviour is remembered
  • Motor reproduction - the ability of observer to perform the behaviour
  • Motivation - the will to perform the behaviour, which is often determined by whether the behaviour was rewarded or punished
• identification

  • people are much more likely to imitate the behaviour of people they identify with (role model)
  • process is called modelling
  • a person becomes a role model if they are seen to possess similar characteristics to the observer and/or are attractive and have high status
• summary:

  classical (pavlov) - learning through association directly - the association is formed by you

  operant (skinner) - learning through consequences directly. you are on receiving end of reinforcement/punishment

  SLT (bandura) - learning through imitation. this is indirect as you are watching what happens as a result of someone else's behaviour
• bandura agreed with behaviourists that we learn directly from experience through classical and operant conditioning

  however, argued we also learn indirectly by observing, imitating others, especially if others appear to be rewarded for their behaviour