The Learning Approach

The Learning Approach

1. History and Context

   • Umbrella term for a group of theories which emphasize the importance of learning.
     • Include behaviorism and social learning theory.
   • Arose from dissatisfaction with the psycho dynamic approach.
     • Watson convinced - Psychodynamic methods were inappropriate and unscientific.
   • 1913 - Watson published book: 'Psychology as a behaviorist views it'.
     • Argued that psychology should be based on observation and measurement.
     • Argued that mental states were not appropriate for psychologists to investigate.

2. Behaviourist Approach

   • Classical Conditioning
     • Pavlovs Dogs
       • APRC
         • Aim - To explore the process by which salivation came to occur at the presence of the research assistants.
         • Process
           • Highly controlled laboratory experiment where Pavlov presented a neutral stimulus (bell) just before food was given out.
           • Pairing of bell to the food was known as contingency.
         • Results
           • After a few attempts of presenting the food with the sound of the bell, Pavlov found that the sound of the bell on its own was enough to lead to salivation.
           • In simple terms, the dog had learned that the bell would be followed by food.
           • Neutral stimulus had become the unconditioned stimulus.
         • Conclusion
           • Before conditioning - Food (Unconditioned stimulus) leads to salivation (unconditioned response).
             • During conditioning - Food (unconditioned stimulus) + bell (neutral stimulus) leads to salivation.
               • After conditioning - Bell (conditioned stimulus) leads to salivation (conditioned response).
       • GRAVE
         • Generalisability
           • Disadvantage - Laboratory Experiment Not natural environment. Could have affect on results.
           • Disadvantage - Not generalisable to humans. Experiment was done on dogs. Dogs are very different to humans therefore you cannot say that if a dog learns in one particular fashion so would humans.
         • Repeatability
           • Advantage - Little Albert shows the same results. Shows that the experiment is repeatable and also shows that both humans and dogs learn through classical conditioning.
         • Application
           • Strength - Can be applied to understand how people learn how to react in certain situations.
         • Validity
         • Ethics
           • Strength - No dogs were harmed in this experiment.
           • Weakness - Difficult to get consent from dogs. Paw prints tend to be identical...
     • Definition = Association between a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus to produce a response.
     • Watson and Rayner, Baby Albert. Albert presented with a white rat which he was conditioned to fear with a load sound from a metal bar behind him.
   • Operant Conditioning
     • Learning through consequences such as reward and punishment.
     • BF Skinner interested in behaviors that were freely made rather than responses that were made reflexively.