Class 2 - Learning + Cognitive Theories

Question 1

What do learning theories focus on?

Answer 1

• how experiences in the environment shape a child

Question 2

What is human behaviour?

Answer 2

• being shaped by the environment, through processed such as classical conditioning and operant conditioning

Question 3

What are the 2 behavioural theories?

Answer 3

Pavlov’s classical conditioning
Skinner’s Operant conditioning

Question 4

What is Pavlov’s classical conditioning as outlined in class?

Answer 4

• association between object and event that triggers an internal response (or physical)
  ie. dog sees a leash and knows it is going to walk

Question 5

What is Skinner’s Operant conditioning as outlined in class?

Answer 5

• How people parent influences behaviour in a positive or negative way w/ consequences

Question 6

Use Skinner’s operant conditioning in a situation where your kid whines (3)

Answer 6

1. kid whines, you respond, and they keep whining because they know you will keep reacting
2. Kid whines, you ignore, they stop
   - eliminate or encourage behaviour

Question 7

What do cognitives theories emphasize?

Answer 7

• mental aspects of development, like logic and memory

Question 8

What are the 4 main Cognitive theories?

Answer 8

1. Jean Piaget’s Cognitive Developmental Theory
2. Information Processing Theory
3. Vygotsky’s Socio-Cultural Theory
4. Albert Bandura’s Social Learning Theory

Question 9

What is Piaget’s Cognitive Developmental Theory’s based on? (3)

Answer 9

• focused on answering the question “How does thinking develop?”
• based many of his ideas about the consistent changes during childhood on naturalistic observations of children of different ages
• diff. stages of growth

Question 10

Piaget’s age observation table

Answer 10

Question 11

Piaget’s theory involves schemes. What is a scheme?

Answer 11

• an internal cognitive structure that provides an individual with a procedure to follow in a specific circumstance
  ie. learning, tasks, touch

Question 12

What does Piaget’s theory have to do with schemes? (2)

Answer 12

• individuals begin life with a small repertoire of sensory and motor schemes (looking, tasking, touch, hear, reach)
• using schemes enhances them

Question 13

What is assimilation in schemes?

Answer 13

• process of applying schemes to experiences

Question 14

What is accomodation in schemes?

Answer 14

• changing the scheme as a result of new info

Question 15

What is equilibration in schemes? (2)

Answer 15

• process of balancing assimilation and accommodation to create schemes that fit the environment
• we learn what works and what does not work in particular situations