Applied Psychology: Learning Approach Unit 1

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What are two assumptions of the learning approach?
We are born as blank slates and learn all of our information from our environment.
Behaviour is learned directly from reinforcement and conditioning and also learned indirectly vicariously
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Classical conditioning is learning through....
association
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Name at least 3 key terms that are used in classical conditioning
Neutral Stimulus
Conditioned Stimulus
Unconditioned Stimulus
Conditioned Response
Unconditioned Response
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What is mean by a neutral stimulus?
An object in the environment which initially
causes no response in an individual before conditioning takes place.
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What is meant by a unconditioned stimulus?
An object in the environment which already causes a response in an individual without any conditioning.
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What is meant by a conditioned response?
The new behaviour shown by the person in response to an object they have learned to associate with an unconditioned stimulus.
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What is a strength of classical conditioning?
It has application to aversion therapy. People with gambling, nicotine and alcohol addiction can be treated by learning to associate their addictions with something unpleasant.
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What is a weakness of classical conditioning?
It is a partial explanation and goes best alongside operant conditioning as well.
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Who were the authors of the key study which was found to support classical conditioning?
Watson & Rayner (1920)
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What was the aim of the key study by Watson & Rayner (1920)?
To investigate whether emotional responses such as fear could be learned through classical conditioning.
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What was the procedure of the key study by Watson & Rayner (1920)?
Little Albert was shown objects like a white rat and rabbit. He was curious about the objects and reached for them.
Watson then banged a metal rod behind his head every time he reached for the object.
This was repeated on several occasions.
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What were the findings of the key study by Watson & Rayner (1920)?
Albert showed a fear of the white rat. He cried and tried to crawl away.
This fear was generalised to other white and furry objects such as a fur coat.
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What was the conclusion of the key study by Watson & Rayner (1920)?
Very young children can be classically
conditioned to develop a phobia.
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What is a strength of the key study by Watson & Rayner (1920)?
Can be used to understand how phobias are conditioned
High level of control of extraneous variables, e.g. albert couldn't be distracted by other toys.
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What is a weakness of the key study by Watson & Rayner (1920)?
Poor generalisability because of the use of one person. Cannot tell us much about the acquisition of phobias in everybody.
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Operant conditioning is learning through...
consequence
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True or false: reinforcement means that a behaviour is more likely to be repeated
True
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What is a difference between positive and negative reinforcement?
positive is giving something that the individual desires whereas negative involves taking away something unpleasant to the individudal.
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Give an example of both positive and negative reinforcement
Giving a gold star to a child for completing their homework.
Sounding a loud noise until everyone is ready to learn in a lesson.
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True or false: Punishment decreases the likelihood of a behaviour being repeated
True
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What is the difference between positive and negative punishment?
positive punishment involves administering something unpleasant to the individual whereas negative punishment is taking away something pleasant
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Give an example of positive and negative punishment
shouting at somebody/criticising them
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What is a strength of operant conditioning?
It has real-life application and has been used to develop token economy systems in prisons and mental health institutions.
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What is a weakness of operant conditioning?
It doesn't take biological factors into account when explaining behaviour.
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Who is the author and what was the animal used in the study which supports operant conditioning?
Skinner (1932)
Rats
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What was the aim of the Key Study by Skinner (1932)
To investigate whether rats could learn to press a lever if there was a reward of food OR an avoidance of electric shocks
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What was the procedure of the Key Study by Skinner (1932)
Rats were placed in the Skinner box and left to explore. In the reward condition, the rats were given a food pellet when the lever was pressed, in the negative reinforcement condition the rat was periodically electrocuted and this stopped when the rat pre
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What were the findings of the Key Study by Skinner (1932)
Rats eventually learned to press the lever to receive food/stop the electric shocks
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What were the conclusions of the Key Study by Skinner (1932)
The behaviour of animals is not free but determined by what is rewarded and punished. This may be used to explain human behaviours too.
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What is a strength of the Key Study by Skinner (1932)
It was highly controlled
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What is a weakness of the Key Study by Skinner (1932)
It was only used on rats which may not
generalize to humans.
It was unethical because the rats were
deliberately underfed.
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What does SLT stand for?
social learning theory
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What makes social learning theory different to operant conditioning?
It involves learning indirectly/vicariously
It involves identification or a role model
It involves mediational factors
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What is meant by modelling?
observing a role model showing behaviours
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What are the 4 mediational processes in SLT?
Attention
Retention
Motor Reproduction
Motivation
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What makes someone more likely to identify with a role model?
They are the same gender
They are similar
The role model has something the individual wants e.g. money
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What is a strength of SLT?
It is supported by research. Bandura's bobo doll research showed that children can learn aggression through role models.
This is also shown in animal studies. Nikol & Pope found chickens learn to imitate role models.
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What is a weakness of SLT?
It ignores genetic/biological factors. Aggression has been linked to testosterone which is higher in males showing this needs to be taken into account.
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What was the aim of Bandura's study into SLT and bobo dolls?
To investigate whether children were likely to imitate an aggressive role model, even more so if they were the same sex model.
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What was the procedure of Bandura's study into SLT and bobo dolls?
Children watched a model either be aggressive towards a bobo doll, be gentle, or did not observe one.
They then went into a playroom and their behaviour towards the Bobo doll was observed.
In a second version the children observed a same-sex model
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What were the findings of Bandura's study into SLT and bobo dolls?
Children who observed the aggressive model imitated it. Those who observed a gentle model also imitated it.
This was even more pronounced when a same-sex model was used.
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What were the conclusions of Bandura's study into SLT and bobo dolls?
Aggression is a social behaviour which is learned from role models.
Imitation is more likely when the role model is of the same gender.
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What is a strength of Bandura's study into SLT and bobo dolls?
It helps us to understand the learning of aggressive behaviour. This knowledge can
be used to reduce aggressive behaviours.
It was a controlled environment meaning we can be confident the role model caused the
behaviour.
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What is a weakness of Bandura's study into SLT and bobo dolls?
The high control could mean that it lacks external validity and doesn't represent learning of aggression in real life.
Use of only 3-5 year old's meaning it is ungeneralisable.
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Of the 3 concepts in learning theory, which 2 are used to explain aggression?
operant conditioning
SLT
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Which learning theory concepts can be used to explain consumer behaviour?
All of them
CC, OC, SLT
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Which concepts of the learning approach are
used to explain masculine and feminine behaviours?
Operant conditioning
SLT
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Classical conditioning is learning through....

Back

association

Card 3

Front

Name at least 3 key terms that are used in classical conditioning

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What is mean by a neutral stimulus?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What is meant by a unconditioned stimulus?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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Barbara21B

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I will try the casino you suggest, I hope I like it.

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