- Unit 4 Learning psychology
- Summary notes 44 pages
- Includes all topics from Edexcel specification (content, methods, studies, key question and practical)
- Includes exam style answers as well as detailed A01 and A03
- 4.1.1 The main features of classical conditioning
- 4.1.2 Pavlov (1927) experiment with salivation in dogs.
Operant conditioning
- 4.1.3 The main features of operant conditioning, including: types of
reinforcement and punishment (positive and negative).
- 4.1.4 Properties of reinforcement, including primary and secondary
reinforcement and schedules of reinforcement.
- 4.1.5 Behaviour modification, including ‘shaping’ behaviour.
- 4.1.6 The main features of social learning theory, including:
observation, imitation, modelling and vicarious reinforcement.
- 4.1.7 Social learning ‘stages’ of attention, retention, reproduction and
motivation (reinforcement).
- 4.1.8 Bandura (1961, 1963) original Bobo doll experiments. 4.1.9
Bandura (1965) Bobo doll experiment with vicarious reinforcement.
4.1.10 How learning theories explain the acquisition and maintenance
of phobias.
- 4.1.11 Treatments for phobias based on theories of learning, including
systematic desensitisation and one other.
- 4.1.12 Individual differences
- 4.1.13 Developmental psychology
4.2 Methods
- 4.2.1 Human research
- 4.2.2 Animal research
- 4.2.3 Analysis of data
- 4.2.4 Scientific status of psychology, including: ● Replicability,
reliability, validity (internal, predictive and ecological), reductionism,
falsification, empiricism, hypothesis testing, and use of controls.
4.3 Studies
Classic study
- 4.3.1 Watson and Rayner (1920) Little Albert: Conditioned emotional
reactions.
One contemporary study from the following
- 4.3.4 Capafóns et al. (1998)
4.4 Key questions
4.5 Practical investigation
, Classical conditioning
Classical Conditioning: states that we learn a behaviour through
association. This is when a connection between two stimuli are built
up.
The Unconditioned Stimulus UCS: any stimulus producing a natural
unlearned response
The Unconditioned Response UCR: a response that occurs naturally
without any form of learning (a reflex action e.g., blinking)
The Conditioned Stimulus CS: a stimulus that has been associated
with an unconditioned stimulus so that it now produces the same
response.
The Neutral Stimulus NS: an environmental stimulus that does not
itself (without association) produce a response.
The Conditioned Response CR: is the learned behaviour displayed as a
reaction to the conditioned stimulus (once the neutral stimulus and
unconditioned stimulus has been repeatedly paired).
Features of classical conditioning:
Extinction: the conditioned stimulus is frequently presented without
the unconditioned stimulus. Eventually the conditioned stimulus will
disappear
Spontaneous recovery: this can occur after extinction, followed by a
time delay. The presence of the conditioned stimulus after this time
delay causes the conditioned response to reappear (in the absence of
the unconditioned stimulus)
Stimulus Generalization: the presence of a neutral stimulus that is
very similar to the conditioned stimulus can create the same
response.
It is also possible that discrimination may occur: meaning that over a
period of time learning only occurs in response to a specific stimulus
Higher order conditioning: this happens after classical conditioning
has taken place. A conditioned response is transferred to a second
neutral stimulus through paring it with the original conditioned
stimulus.
,Process
1. The naturally occurring stimulus will
automatically elicit a response in an
organism.
2. For instance, food is an unconditioned
stimulus for your cat and salvation is the
response to the presentation of food is an
unconditioned response.
3. At this point in the conditioning process
there is also a neutral stimulus that
produces no effect at the sound of an
opening of cat food
4. There is however no innate reflex response
to this sound.
5. According to the theory the NS must be
paired with the UCS to evoke a response.
6. If the NS and UCS are repeatedly paired
which each other an association is formed.
7. The NS becomes the CS and the UCR
becomes the CR.
8. Therefor your cat salivates when it is
presented with food.
9. If the sound of the opening can is paired
multiple times with the presentation of
the food the sound alone will eventually
trigger the conditioned response in your
cat.
, Evaluate classical conditioning as a theory to explain human behaviour ??(8)
AO1: Classical conditioning states that AO1
we learn behaviour through 1. The naturally occurring stimulus
association; this is when a connection will automatically elicit a
between two stimuli is built up. The response in an organism.
Unconditioned Stimulus UCS: any 2. For instance, food is an
stimulus producing a natural unlearned unconditioned stimulus for your
response. The Unconditioned Response cat and salvation is the response
UCR: a response that occurs naturally to the presentation of food is an
without any form of learning (a reflex unconditioned response.
action e.g., blinking). The Conditioned 3. At this point in the conditioning
Stimulus CS: a stimulus that has been process there is also a neutral
associated with an unconditioned stimulus that produces no effect
stimulus so that it now produces the at the sound of an opening of
same response. The Neutral Stimulus cat food
NS: an environmental stimulus that 4. There is however no innate reflex
does not itself (without association) response to this sound.
produce a response. The Conditioned 5. According to the theory the NS
Response CR: is the learned behaviour must be paired with the UCS to
displayed as a reaction to the evoke a response.
conditioned stimulus (once the neutral 6. If the NS and UCS are repeatedly
stimulus and unconditioned stimulus paired which each other an
has been repeatedly paired). association is formed.
7. The NS becomes the CS and the
UCR becomes the CR.
8. Therefor your cat salivates when
it is presented with food.
9. If the sound of the opening can
is paired multiple times with the
presentation of the food the
sound alone will eventually
trigger the conditioned response
in your cat.
A03 This is supported by strong A03 However, one weakness of classical
research evidence from Pavlov’s study conditioning is that the sample used by
whereby a dog was classically Pavlov was a dog which is not
conditioned to salivate to the sound of representative of society as animals are
a ticking metronome. Therefor very different to humans in their
supporting the idea that behaviour can anatomies, brains, and mental abilities.
be learned through association. Therefor the finding that people can be
classically conditioned to do certain
things is not generalizable to society.
AO1 Conditioned response can be A01 Extinction is when the conditioned
generalised to another stimulus that is stimulus loses their association with
similar to the conditioned stimulus. the original conditioned stimulus and
This is called stimulus generalisation reverts back to being a neutral
and explains ideas such as phobias. It is stimulus again. Spontaneous recovery
also possible that discrimination may occurs after extinction and a time
occur meaning that over a period of delay. The presence of the conditioned
time learning only occurs in response stimulus after this time delay causes
to a specific stimulus the conditioned response to reappear.
Higher order conditioning: this happens
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