Chapter 4 - Learning Theory Perspectives Flashcards
classical conditioning
can account for learning in humans, can also explain many of our emotions
> unconditioned stimulus & unconditioned response
> neutral stimulus
> conditioned stimulus and conditioned response
> generalizing
extinction
Behaviorist perspective on classical conditioning
(regarding psychopathology)
psychopathology as a learnt, maladaptive response to a situation that may have been generalized to other situations / similar stimuli –> abnormal development resulted from acquiring maladaptive response
Operant Conditioning (Skinner)
classical conditioning too simplistic, rather consequences of the response are crucial, as it affects the probability of the response being repeated
> positive reinforcement
> negative reinforcement
> random or partial reinforcement schedules
> shaping
Positive reinforcement
consequence of a behavior is to encourage the repetition of that behavior
negative reinforcement
consequences that discourage repetition of behavior
random/ partial reinforcement schedules
produce behavior very resistant to change
shaping
Through the process of successive approximation, behaviors that are getting closer to a target behavior are progressively rewarded with positive reinforcement
Stimulus-response Model (Dollard & Miller)
- Attempt to integrate Freud‘s psychoanalytic approach with learning theory
- Behaviour is not only a response to environmental stimuli BUT can also be response to inner stimuli (cues) -> Role of cognitive processing in learning theory
habit
association between stimulus and response
> can be positive or negative
primary drives
(Stimulus-repsone Model, Dollard + Miller)
innate drives, psychological drives associated with ensuring survival for the individual
> reduction of these drives: most powerful reinforcement (automatically + unconscious),
> rarely directly observed
> Primary reinforcers: food, water, sleep
Secondary drives
mainly learnt to help us cope with the primary drives
> secondary reinforcers: items or events that were originally neutral but have acquired a value as a reinforcer through being associated with primary drive reduction
Learning of habits (Stimulus-Response Model)
- initial drive
- cues to act (guidance on how to act)
- response to act (if response not satisfying: extinction)
- reinforcement
conflict situations
(Stimulus reponse theory)
- approach-approach conflict: two equally desirable goals
- avoidance - avoidance conflict: two equally undesirable alternatives
- approach -avoidance conflict: one goal with desirable and undesirable aspects
- double approach avoidance: multiple goals, some desirable, some undesirable
Dollard + Miller account of human developement
deterministic: behavior is motivated by the need to reduce our primary and secondary drives –> learning behavior in the process
Dollard + Miller Approach to mental health disorders
- psychopathology as learnt, unproductive and unhelpful habits or responses
> aim of treatment: remove ineffective habits and replace them with new/ more effective habits
1. Talking phase
2. Performance phase
