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A grade Psychology - summary Learning theories

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a full and detailed summary of learning theories for edexcel AS psychology, covering every single part of the specification , with everything needed for the exam

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  • July 12, 2023
  • 47
  • 2022/2023
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erikakumar

Available practice questions

Flashcards 56 Flashcards
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Some examples from this set of practice questions

1.

tallying

Answer: when and how many times a certain behaviour occurs

2.

time sampling

Answer: observations at different times intervals

3.

time sampling weaknesses

Answer: not representative of true frequency of behaviour : certain behaviours may be missed if only some behaviours occur at certain times

4.

event sampling

Answer: record behaviour every time it occurs

5.

event sampling weaknesses

Answer: too many instances of behaviour happen at once :cannot record all instances of that behaviour

6.

naturalistic observations

Answer: happens within the participants\' own natural environment

7.

naturalistic observations strengths

Answer: gain real insight into natural behaviour

8.

structured observations

Answer: staged observations within an environment that researcher has more control over

9.

strengths of structured observations

Answer: gain numerical and objectuve data. behaviour is naturally-occurring. more reliable as coding systems can be made which increases replicability.

10.

weakness of structured observations

Answer: hard to ensure all observers interpret the same behaviour in the same way

LEARNING THEORIES

● Humans born a “blank state” (tabula rasa)

● All behaviour is a response to to a stimulus in the environment, not taking

into account cognitions


CLASSICAL CONDITIONING

LEARNING BY ASSOCIATION

● Unconditioned stimulus (UCS) = Unconditioned response (UCR) based on

biology

● Neutral stimulus (NS) that normally doesn’t affect us, paired with

Unconditioned stimulus (UCS) = both become associated (conditioning)

● NS = Conditioned stimulus (UCS): produces SAME reaction of UCS

● Conditioned response (CR): artificial learned response to CS

● EXTINCTION: conditioned stimuli gradually lose their association with the

original unconditioned stimuli, so revert back to NS

Prevented : CS + old UCS again to strengthen association

● SPONTANEOUS RECOVERY: association never truly forgotten so CR can still

reappear

● STIMULUS GENERALISATION: tendency of CR to appear in response to

things not original CS (stimuli similar to CS produce CR)

Enables us to apply what we’ve learned in 1 context to other similar contexts




1

,Strengths

Theory only looks at behaviors : every step in conditioning process is observable

=scientific credibility

Challenging evidence

Generalising conclusions from animal research to humans learning isn’t so clear b/C

animals different anatomy + physiology and day-to-day experiences

Difficult to tell whether one learning theory is largely responsible when something

is learned

E.g. even when associations are formed, person is being rewarded / punished at

the same time

Reductionist: reduces ALL behavior to learning through association


2

,Underestimate role of biological factors e.g. genetic differences + instincts

Focuses on nurture but some may be born with predispositions towards

behaviours rather than learning them through conditioning

Ignores cognitions (personality, willpower + motivation) = simplistic and not

complete explanation of why some behave the way they do

Use of laboratory experiments with animals: caused unnecessary suffering to dogs

Weighed against benefits of research & whether ends justify means by furthering

understanding of behaviour

Other explanations

Freud : most of self-destructive behavior comes from hidden thought-processes in

unconscious mind so are not learned + un-learnt easily

Usefulness

Therapy to treat “irrational / instinctive” phobias + addictions

Aversion therapy associates dysfunctional behaviour with a UCR (e.g. nausea) = new

CS that produces nauseous CR with NS leading to that behaviour

Only when patient is willing + wants to succeed

Systematic desensitisation associates troubling CR (e.g. phobia) with CS (e.g. spider)

in relaxing + safe environment = stop associating fear with spider which goes back

to being NS producing no reaction (extinction)

PAVLOV (1927) study into salivation in dogs




3

, Aim: if a reflexive behaviour can be produced in new situations through learning (if

associating reflex with neutral stimulus like sound = learning, producing

conditioned reflex)

IV: dogs' natural reflexive behaviour (salivating when food is in their mouths);
dogs' behaviour after they have been conditioned to associate food with a
different stimulus

DV: how many drops of saliva the dog produced

Sample: 35 dogs of various breeds


Procedure: (repeated measures design)


Placed dog in sealed room : can’t see, smell or hear anything outside, preventing

other stimuli (extraneous variables)

Dog strapped into a harness to stop it moving and its mouth was linked to a tube

that drained saliva away into a measuring bottle

Control condition: dog was presented with food (meat powder) through a hatch=

dog salivated

Experimental control: dog was presented with neutral stimulus sound (tuning fork,

an electric buzzer or a metronome (a machine producing regular ticking)

=dog didn’t salivate

To condition dog: sound was paired with presentation of food

After conditioning: dog was presented with sound but no meat

Results: conditioned dog salivated 9 seconds after hearing the sound
By 45 seconds: 11 drops of saliva.



4

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