LEARNING - INTRO TO LEARNING

Question 1

the learning approach

Answer 1

-the main assumption of the learning approach is that all behaviour is learned and shaped by the environment
-learning theorists examine how we acquire these behaviours and study the mechanisms that underlie learning

METHODOLOGY
->lab settings are favoured because they allow researchers to control very precisely the conditions under which learning occurs
->experimental methods are used because they allow inferences to be drawn about cause & effect relationships between the variables studied
->lots of behaviourist research involves studying learning in animals under lab conditions, using experimental methods
–>animals are used because behaviourists assume they learn in the same way as people, but are more convenient to study

Question 2

key assumptions of the learning approach

Answer 2

BORN A BLANK SLATE:
->the human mind is an empty vessel with nothing in it but a few basic instincts at birth
->all behaviours are learned from the environment
->this approach rejects the notion that behaviour is determined by biological causes

MIND IS A BLACK BOX:
->the learning approach views the mind as a “black box” which we cannot access - this approach is primarily concerned with observable behaviour, as opposed to internal events (like thinking and emotion)
->it sees no point in studying something you can’t see as these are abstract concepts and are hard to measure
->observable behaviour can be objectively and scientifically measured

ONLY STUDY OBSERVABLE BEHAVIOUR:
->as scientific psychologists, the learning approach believes we should only study observable behaviour as theories should be supported by data obtained through observation
->therefore, it only studies overt behaviour and the stimuli causing it
->it can be objectively measured rather than things like cognitive processes which can only be inferred

ANIMALS AND HUMANS LEARN IN SIMILAR WAYS:
->the approach uses lab expts on humans and animals in order to investigate behaviour
->expts are used because lab expts have the strong control necessary to draw the C&E conclusions which increases the validity in explaining behaviour
->the laws of behaviour are equally the same and animals allow for repetition and validity

Question 3

evaluation of the learning approach

Answer 3

STRENGTHS:
->lab expts
–>high control of EVs
–>allows us to establish C&E

->application IRL
–>learning occurs through observation & imitation of role models
–>we use this info to teach children how to behave, eg. providing good role models

WEAKNESSES:
->ignores biological factors
–>eg. testosterone in men; hormones can alter your behaviour, and testosterone increases aggression
–>therefore, it is a reductionist explanation

->use of animal studies
–>animal research isn’t very ethical and results may not be generalisable to humans as humans and animals aren’t the same

Question 4

how learning theories explain the acquisition and maintenance of phobias

Answer 4

CLASSICAL CONDITIONING:
(eg. Little Albert)
UCS(stimulus, eg. noise) -> UCR(fear response, eg. crying)
UCS(stimulus, eg. noise) + NS (associated w/ UCS, eg. white rat) -> UCR (fear response, eg. crying)
CS(NS becomes CS, eg. white rat) -> CR(fear response, eg. crying)

OPERANT CONDITIONING:
->positive reinforcement: people show symptoms of fear from a phobic object; they’re given attention (comfort) which reinforce them to continue showing fear symptoms
->negative reinforcement: removal of anxiety (eg. spider taken away) reinforces us to stay away from the phobic object

SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY:
->observation: a child watches an older sibling respond to finding a spider, the older sibling might scream or cry, showing a fear response
->vicarious reinforcement: the parent will likely comfort the sibling
->imitation: in order to get the same attention (comfort), they will repeat the behaviour the older sibling (their role model) displayed upon encountering the phobic object (spider)
->reinforcement: if they get the same comfort, this will act as a reinforcer to continue being scared

EVALUATION:
E-> (strength) Capafons Et Al (1998) provide evidence to support CC as an explanation of phobias
–>90% of ppts showed a significant decrease in fear of flying within the treatment groups
–>this supports as CC was used to decondition their phobia

A-> (strength) we can use the info we know from CC to treat phobias
–>methods like flooding and SD are used to treat phobias, and were built based on the principles of CC, replacing negative associations with positive ones
–>therefore, CC can be used to decondition fear

C-> (weakness) evolution is an alternate explanation for the acquisition and maintenance of phobias
–>phobias get passed on, such as heights/snakes/the dark, so that we are more likely to avoid these dangerous situations and survive
–>this theory explains universal phobias but it doesn’t have much application

H-> (weakness) Capafons only treats aerophobia so may not explain other phobias (not generalisable)
–>also used a volunteer sample, meaning ppts were all highly motivated to do the task, therefore decreasing validity