The Learning Theory

The Learning Theory

1. Classical Conditioning

   • two stimuli become associated with innate responces
     • E.g. Pavlov's dogs:
       • Food (unconditioned stimulus) -----> salivation (unconditioned response)
         • Bell -----> no response
           • Bell + Food (unconditioned response) -----> salivation (unconditioned stimulus)
             • Bell (conditioned Stimulus) ----> Salivation (conditioned response)

2. Operant Conditioning

   • behaviour learned due to reinforcements and rewards
     • E.g. Skinner (1904)
       • He showed a rat could be conditioned: when the rat approached and pushed down on the lever, it was rewarded with food pellets. after a few times of this happeneing the rat became conditioned to do this.

3. Evaluation

   • Pros: the learning theory has stimulated interest into this area of psychology
   • Cons: food is not always the main focus of explaining behaviour. this theory doesnt explain comples behaviours. not a lot of supportive evidence for it