Learning Theories Flashcards
(24 cards)
What is classical conditioning?
: Learning through association between a stimulus and an automatic response.
Who developed classical conditioning and when?
Ivan Pavlov in the early 1900s
What is an unconditioned stimulus (UCS)?
A stimulus that naturally causes a response (e.g., food → salivation).
What is a neutral stimulus (NS)?
A stimulus that initially produces no response.
What is a conditioned stimulus (CS)?
A previously neutral stimulus that now triggers a conditioned response after association with UCS.
What is extinction in classical conditioning?
The weakening of the conditioned response when the CS is repeatedly presented without the UCS.
In Pavlov’s study, what was the NS and what did it become?
The metronome; it became the conditioned stimulus (CS).
What is operant conditioning?
Learning through consequences of behaviour (rewards and punishments).
Who is associated with operant conditioning?
B.F. Skinner.
What is positive reinforcement?
Adding something pleasant to increase behaviour.
What is negative reinforcement?
Removing something unpleasant to increase behaviour.
What is positive punishment?
Adding something unpleasant to decrease behaviour.
What is negative punishment?
Taking away something pleasant to decrease behaviour.
Name one advantage of a variable ratio reinforcement schedule.
Behaviour is consistent because the reward is unpredictable (e.g., gambling).
What’s one weakness of operant conditioning?
Doesn’t consider internal thoughts or individual differences.
What was Pavlov’s aim in his study?
To see if dogs could learn to associate a neutral stimulus (metronome) with food.
What was the unconditioned response in Pavlov’s study?
Salivation in response to food.
What was the conclusion of Pavlov’s experiment?
Reflexes can be conditioned using a neutral stimulus.
What ethical issue is associated with Pavlov’s study?
Distress and caging of dogs, though pain was minimized.
What was the aim of Becker et al.’s study?
To assess the impact of Western TV on eating behaviour of Fijian adolescent girls.
What significant change was found between 1995 and 1998?
Households with TV increased from 41.4% to 70.8%; disordered eating also increased.
What is one strength of Becker’s study?
High population validity and use of both quantitative and qualitative data.
What is one weakness of Becker’s study?
Restricted sample limits generalisability.
What is one suggested improvement to Becker’s study?
Include boys and other regions for broader generalisability.
