learning theories

Question 1

classical conditioning

Answer 1

unconditioned stimulus = unconditioned response
neutral stimulus + unconditioned stimulus = unconditioned response
conditioned stimulus = conditioned response

stimulus generalisation - once animals are conditoned, they will respond to other stimuli that are similar
discrimination - conditioning can be focused on a specific stimuli, specific item produces response
extinction: CR isnt permanent, when cs and ucs have not been paired for a while, cs ceases to elicit the cr
spontaneous recovery: following extinction, when cs and ucs are paired together again the link is made quicker

Question 2

classical conditioning strengths

Answer 2

treatments for phobias or aversions to food, can classically condition to unlink

pavlovs dog supports

Question 3

classical conditioning weakness

Answer 3

social learning theory

experimented on dogs which have different brain structures and psychology to humans

Question 4

pavlov AO1

Answer 4

aim: investigate associative learning and understanding if a reflex response with a neutral stimulus produces a conditoned response
repeated measures design
25 dogs, variety of breeds, raised in kennels in the lab

dogs placed into sealed room, controlled measure
strapped into harness, mouth surgically linked to tube that drained saliva into measuring bottle
sound of metronome paired with presentation of food, causing salivation - repeated 20 times
after the dog was conditioned, sound of metronome but no food and number of drops of saliva were counted and collected in measuring tube

pavlov found the conditioned dog started to salivate 9 seconds after hearing the sound, in 45 seconds, 11 drops produced
secondary conditioning occured if the first cs causing the cs paired with another neutral stimulus

Question 5

pavlov strengths

Answer 5

classical conditioning is accepted in aversion therapy - involves extinguishing undesireable behavior by pairing with negative stimulus

high internal validity, controlled lab experiment

Question 6

pavlov weakness

Answer 6

low ecological validity and mundane realism

dogs surgically implanted with cannula and kept in sealed room - no bps guidelines established and therefore study is unethical

Question 7

little albert AO1

Answer 7

aim: to investigate classical conditioning to condition fear response

repeated measures design
1 male 9 month old baby

presented with range of animals and objects - white rat selecred as he was NOT scared of it
tested for innate fear response by striking hammer on a steel bar causing him to cry
little albert was conditoned at 11 months old, white rat was presented with the banging noise
procedure repeated
31 days later, little albert was tested for stimuli by observing fearful behaviors towards a rabbit, dog and santa mask

little albert cried when presented with the mouse
stimulus generalisation was shown as he cried when shown similar stimuli
transfer of response to another setting as he showed the same behavior towards a rat and rabbit in different locations

Question 8

little albert strengths

Answer 8

standardised replicable procedure

can be applied to aversion therapy

Question 9

little albert weakness

Answer 9

low population validity - 1 9 month old baby from the USA

unethical - details of the nature of experiment ommitted, deception

Question 10

operant conditioning AO1

Answer 10

bf skinner
voluntary behaviors which we consciously control can be learned through understanding consequence of our actions

reinforcement - when desired behavior is reawrded with pleasant consequences
positive reinforcement - rewards the desired behavior by adding positive
negative reinforcement - rewards the desired behavior by removing negative
primary reinforcement - reward is not a basic need, learn to value the reinforcement
positive punishment - consequence is receiving something unpleasant
negative punishment - removing something desirable

Question 11

operant conditioning strengths

Answer 11

observable and scientific - measurable outcomes

real world application to education, parenting, behavioral therapy

Question 12

operant conditioning weakness

Answer 12

ignores mental proceeses like thoughts, emotions or motivation

supporting evidence involved non human animals which raises ethical concerns and may not fully generalise to human behavior - low external validity