Behaviourism and social learning theory

Classical conditioning

Classical conditioning

• learning by association

• Known as stimulus-response psychology

• 2 stimuli, an unconditioned stimulus (UCS) and a neutral stimulus (NS) are repeatedly paired together

• NS= no response

• UCS= UCR

• UCS +NS= UCR

• CS=CR

Stimulus

Anything in the environment that causes a response

Response

Behaviour triggered by a stimulus in the environment

Operant conditioning

• learning by consequence

• behaviour is acquired and maintained by its consequences including positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement and punishment

Reinforcement

A consequence of behaviour that increases the likelihood that a behaviour is repeated

Punishment

An unpleasant consequence that will result in behaviour likely to be repeated

What are the 4 main assumptions of behaviourism?

• humans are born a blank slate

• Human behaviour is learnt through experience (cc and oc)

• Only observable behaviour can be studied scientifically

• It is valid to study animals- they share the same principles of learning and therefore conclusions can be extrapolated to humans

Pavlov’s research

• aim

• Method

• Results

• Conclusions

• investigate stimulus-response associations in dogs

• Lab experiment. Paired presentation of food (naturally produced saliva response) with a neural stimuli (i.e. a bell)