Social Learning Theory

Social Learning Theory

1. Classical Conditioning

   • Classical conditioning is learning through association and was discovered by Pavlov and his dogs. The process is where two stimuli are linked to create a learned response in an animal or person.
     • The Unconditional stimulus produces an unconditional response in an organism this means that a stimulus in the environment has produced a behaviour / response which is unlearned, therefore it is natural and not taught. This involves another stimulus which has no effect on a person and is called the neutral stimulus. This could be a person or an object, e.t.c.
       • a stimulus which produces no response (e.g neutral) is associated with unconditioned stimulus at which point it now becomes known as the conditioned stimulus. For classic conditioning to be effective, the conditioned stimulus should occur before the unconditioned stimulus, rather than after it, or during the same time. The conditioned stimulus acts as a type of signal for the unconditioned stimulus.

2. Operant Conditioning

   • Operant conditioning is a method of learning that occurs through rewards and punishments for behaviour. Through operant conditioning, an individual makes an association between a particular behaviour and a consequence
     • Skinner introduced a new term into the Law of Effect - Reinforcement. Behaviour which is reinforced tends to be repeated (i.e., strengthened); behaviour which is not reinforced tends to die out-or be extinguished (i.e., weakened). Skinner studied operant conditioning by conducting experiments using animals which he placed in a 'Skinner Box' .
       • Neutral operants: responses from the environment that neither increase nor decrease the probability of a behavior being repeated.
       • Punishers: Responses from the environment that decrease the likelihood of a behavior being repeated. Punishment weakens behavior.
       • Reinforcers: Responses from the environment that increase the probability of a behavior being repeated. Reinforcers can be either positive or negative.

3. Operant conditioning can be used to explain a wide variety of behaviors, from the process of learning, to addiction and language acquisition. It also has practical application (such as token economy) which can be applied in classrooms, prisons and psychiatric hospitals.

   • However, operant conditioning fails to take into account the role of inherited and cognitive factors in learning, and thus is an incomplete explanation of the learning process in humans and animals.
     • The use of animal research in operant conditioning studies also raises the issue of extrapolation. Some psychologists argue we cannot generalize from studies on animals to humans as their anatomy and physiology is different from humans, and they cannot think about their experiences and invoke reason, patience, memory or self-comfort
   • Operant conditioning explains a wide range of phenomena, such as learning language and phobias.

4. A strength of classical conditioning theory is that it is scientific. This is because it's based on empirical evidence carried out by controlled experiments. For example, Pavlov (1902) showed how classical conditioning could be used to make a dog salivate to the sound of a bell.

   • A criticism of classical conditioning theory is that it is deterministic. This means that it does not allow for any degree of free will in the individual. Accordingly, a person has no control over the reactions they have learned from classical conditioning, such as a phobia.
     • it is limiting to describe behavior solely in terms of either nature or nurture, and attempts to do this underestimate the complexity of human behavior.
   • Classical conditioning emphasizes the importance of learning from the environment, and supports nurture over nature.