Unit 2 - Theory Time

I’m kick starting my unit two resources (little late I know) with the learning Approach.

There are three theories in this approach so here we go.

1.      Social Learning Theory

This Theory is all about learning through modelling and reinforcement.

Modelling – is behaviour learnt through observing others, can lead to imitation of observed behaviour if it leads to desirable consequences.

There are four processed in observational learning (remember at least three for the exam)

1.       Attentional Process – Paying attention to a model’s actions

2.       Retentional Process – Retaining what we have observed

3.       Motor Reproduction process – Translating memories into actions

4.       Motivational Processes – If we receive a desirable consequence from copying a model we repeat it.

2.      Operant Conditioning Theory

This theory states that learning occurs through the consequences of our actions

Reinforcers (rewards) are used to learn new behaviours

Primary Reinforcers are things needed for survival such as food

Secondary Reinforcers are things we want/get us primary reinforcers such as money

Reinforcement – is a reward used to make you repeat a desirable behaviour

Punishment – makes you stop behaviour

Positive – Something that is given

Negative – something that is taken away (reinforcement can either be positive or negative)

Vicarious Reinforcement is when someone else is receiving reinforcement which influences your behaviour

Behaviour Shaping – Skinner believed that complex behaviour can be learnt through this process where any behaviour that is related to what the person is looking for is reinforced. As the process goes on the reinforcements become more selective towards the exact behaviour the person is looking for.

This seems like a lot to remember but remember in the exam you’ll be asked to make six points at the most when describing a theory and in unit 2 you will not be asked to evaluate theories!

3.      Classical Conditioning

This is the idea that we learn through association

                         Stimulus (environment) > Response (behaviour shown)

Conditioned = learnt

Unconditioned = Not learnt (environment)

Neutral = No effect

Extinction – If the conditioned stimulus is presented several times without the unconditioned stimulus the effects of conditioning fade

Spontaneous Recovery – When extinction has happened the conditioned response can still occur if the conditioned stimulus returns

Generalisation – When the effects of the conditioned stimulus can be generalised to similar objects.

If you’re struggling to understand this theory let me know below and I will make another resource for it.