Learning Theory

Learning Theory

1. Classical Conditioning

   • Learning through association
   • Pavlov
     • Salivation reflex in dogs
     • They started salivating before being fed
     • Salivated when heard the door, arrival of food
     • Dogs associated door sound with food
       • Learned a new stimulus response
   • Food (UCS) naturally produces a sense of pleasure (UCR)
     • Person that feeds (CS) the infant becomes associated with food
       • the pleasure becomes a CR
   • Evaluation
     • Lack of Validity
       • Largely based on research with non-human animals
       • Human behaviour is more influenced by high order thinking and emotions
       • Present an oversimplified version of human behaviour
     • Ethics
       • unethical to subject animals to harm
         • They can't give consent to being experimented on
     • High validity
       • Humans behaviour is constructed from the same things as animal
         • It's legitimate to generalise human behaviour from animal responses

2. Operant Conditioning

   • Learning occurs when we are rewarded for something
   • Every time you do something, results in a pleasant consequence
     • Behaviour is reinforced
       • Becomes more likely to be repeated in the future
   • If done something resulting in a negative consequence
     • Less likely to do it again
   • Dollard and Miller
     • Suggested a hungry infant feels uncomfortable creating a drive to reduce it.
     • When infant is fed, drive is reduced
       • Produces a feeling of pleasure
     • Food becomes a primary reinforcer
     • Person who supplies food is associated with avoiding discomfort
       • Becomes a secondary reinforcer
     • Attachment occurs because child seeks the person who can supply the reward