Learning Theory

Learning Theory

1. This theory suggests that all children are born a blank slate and learn from their behaviour through interactions in their environment. This is learnt through classical and operant conditioning,

2. classical conditioning

   • This suggest that behaviour is learned through association, A neutral stimulus is introduced the feeder which is associated with food and gets the responses of UCR. Eventually the feeder becomes a conditioned stimulus and then pleasure is a conditioned response.
   • Pavlov dog's

3. Operant conditioning

   • We learn through punishment and rewards. If you are rewarded for behaviour then it's positively reinforced and is more likely to be repeated and if you are punishes the behaviour is negatively reinforced
   • Harlow's monkey contradicts this as they preferred the cloth mother and comfort rather than the feeder mum. Suggesting they preferred the comfort over reward.
   • Skinners Rats

4. Schaffer and Emerson observed 60 babies in Glasgow and concluded that these babies were not most attached to the person that fed them but to the person that interacted with them the most.