Learning and cognitive approaches

Behaviourism

Belief that psychology could only become truly objective if it limited itself to the study of behaviour (which is public) as opposed to conscious experience (which is private)

4 assumptions of behaviourism

Behaviour is learned from experience

Only observable behaviour is measured

Non-human animals are valid subjects of study, since they share the same principles of learning

We are born a blank slate, and so there is no influence of genetics on our behaviour

Classical conditioning

Learning by association with different stimuli

Classical conditioning diagram and abbreviations

NS, NR. NS, UCS, UCR. NS, CS.

Operant conditioning

focuses on how behaviour is influenced by consequences

Positive reinforcement

Encourages behaviour by adding reward

Negative reinforcement

Encourages behaviour by removing unpleasant/negative stimulus

Punishment

discourages behaviour by adding a negative consequence or taking away a positive one

ABC

Antecedents, behaviours, consequences

Little Albert Study

Classical conditioning study - animals/toy/mask, conditioned with fear response from loud noise

Skinner study

Operant conditioning study, rat/pigeon in “Skinner box”

Pavlov study

Classical conditioning study, dogs conditioned to salivate at sound of bell

criticisms of learning theory

Doesn’t address genetic influence on behaviour

Social learning theory

Bandura study

Learning through copying the behaviour of someone else

Key concepts of SLT

Imitation

Modelling

Identification

Vicarious reinforcement

4 mediating processes

Attention

Retention

Reproduction

Motivation

Attention

Whether or not a stimulus grabs attention (we observe thousands of stimulus per day)

Retention

A memory of the behaviour is formed

reproduction

Limited by physical/mental ability, is it reproducible practically?

Motivation

Rewards/punishments will be considered by the observer (importance)

Imitation

Copying the behaviour of a role model

Identification

Being influenced by a behaviour of a person that you admire which does beyond simple copying

Modelling

A role model, displaying desirable traits to copy from

Vicarious reinforcement

When a person observes the consequence of someone else’s behaviour and repeats/avoids this behaviour themselves as a result

Cognitive approach

Scientific study of internal mental processes

Assumptions of cognitive approach

Thought processes should be studied scientifically - unlike introspection (too unscientific)

Mind works like a computer

Thought processes between stimulus and response must be considered

Schemas

Packages of information which we build up in our memories based on experiences

Information processing model

Input - Processing - Output