Learning - Key Assumptions

Learning - Key Assumptions

1. Psychology must only deal with behaviour that can be observed and measured

   • In the Learning Approach lab experiments (on humans and animals) and observations are used
     • Lab experiments are scientific due to cause and effect relationships and strictly controlled variables

2. All behaviour is determined or caused in some way as we are born as a blank slate

   • All behaviour follows universal laws. For example, Thorndike's Law of Effect states
     • If a response is followed by a pleasant consequence it will be repeated
     • If a response is followed by an unpleasant consequence it's less likely to be repeated