The Learning Approches Flashcards
(30 cards)
What main idea did Watson, Pavlov and Skinner focus on?
Environmental determinism
What is environmental determinism?
The idea that traits and behaviours are governed by external force such as experience, upbringing, learning,school. The environment is the main influence on all our behaviour.
What did John Locker claim we are all born as?
Tabula Rasa (Blank mind)
What did the learning approach focus on?
Creating a psychology that was highly scientific, founded on empiricism.
What three ways does the learning approach assume we learn behaviour from?
- classical conditioning
- social learning theory
- operant conditioning
Who’s work is classical conditioning based on?
Ivan Pavlov
What did Ivan Pavlov’s work consist of?
He noticed he dog would salivate every time he entered the room, even when he wasn’t bringing them food.
Having noticed this Pavlov carried out research to see if they would salivate in response to a bell. He started from the idea that there are some things that a dog does not need to learn like salivating is a reflex that is ‘hard wired’ into the dog (to help them digest and breakdown food).
In behaviourist terms, it is an unconditioned response.
What is classical conditioning also known as?
Reflexing learning
Who’s work is operant conditioning based on?
Skinner
What is Skinners theory?
The likelihood of future behaviour is determined by the
consequences of past behaviour. This means
‘behavioural expression is determined by its consequences’. Throughout his research he used what has become known as ‘skinner boxes’ with pigeons and rats.
Positive reinforcement
Increase in the frequency of the behaviour by giving pleasant consequences.
Negative reinforcement
The effect of increasing the frequency of a behaviour by using consequences that are pleasant when they stop.
Punishment
The effect of decreasing the frequency of a behaviour by using consequences that are unpleasant when they happen.
Primary reinforcers
Occur naturally without having to make an effort, they don’t require learning and are often biologically important.
Social learning theory
Focuses on learning via imitation.
What are the key aspects of the social learning theory?
- Imitation
- Identification
- Modelling
- Vicarious
- reinforcement/punishment
Imitation
When an individual observes a behaviour from a role model and copies it.
Identification
When an individual is influenced by another because they are similar in some way or wish to be like them.
Modelling
An influential person is known is a model. When an individual imitates that model it is called modelling.
Vicarious reinforcement/punishment
Whatever consequence the person sees the model receiving (punishment or reward) will influence whether or not they imitate the behaviour.
What are the 4 criteria needed to be met before imitation can occur?
- Attention
- Retention
- Reproduction
- Motivation
Attention
Attention to role model. These are factors that influence
whether a learner pays attention to a role model. These may include the learner’s interpretation of the role model’s power, attractiveness and similarity.
Retention
Retention of the observed behaviour. These are factors that influence whether a learner identifies with a role model and remembers the behaviours their role model produces. These include the appropriateness of the behaviour to the role model.
Reproduction
Reproduction of the target behaviour. These are factors that influence whether a learner believes they should imitate the behaviour they have acquired. These includes physical ability, but also the learner’s self-esteem and self-efficacy.
