Download Unit 1 | Learning

Unit 1 | Learning
Operant and classical conditioning
Behaviourism
There are various approaches in Psychology – basically these are different views on
what ‘makes people tick’. Behaviourism is one of these approaches. It is based on
the idea that all our behaviour can be explained by what we have learned. Operant
conditioning and classical conditioning are the ways that people learn. You will need
to know more detail about behaviourism in other parts of the course.
Operant conditioning
Operant conditioning is a form of learning based on reinforcement. For example, at
school are you more likely to do your homework if your teacher promises you a
reward or by being threatened with a punishment like staying in at lunchtime?
Skinner's research in 1974 is one of the best examples of how operant conditioning
works. Skinner carried out a large number of experiments using animals like birds
and rats using a box that he designed which has become known as a Skinner box.
A Skinner box is used to house an animal. It contains a lever or a button which can
be pressed to get some food. For example, a pigeon pecks around in the box and
accidentally presses the button that releases food. After doing this accidentally the
pigeon learns that pressing the button gives food. This is called positive
reinforcement because pressing the button brings the desired food. Not surprisingly
the effect works best when the reward appears very soon after the action. Another
simple example is to think about how people use dog treats to train a dog to sit up
and beg.
Negative reinforcement is another important part of this theory. This time, however,
the result of the action is not desired so is avoided. For example, if a rat is given an
electric shock which can be switched off when a lever is pressed, then the rat will
press the lever as soon as an electric shock is felt.
To sum up:
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behaviour is learned through reinforcement
both positive and negative reinforcers increase the chances of a behaviour
being repeated
positive reinforcement is when something desirable is received; negative
reinforcement is when something undesirable is avoided.
Classical conditioning
Classical conditioning is a form of learning based on an association (or link) between
two stimuli. For example, if you were bitten by a friend's dog, it is likely that you
would be reluctant to visit that friend's house again. And if you were bitten by another
dog, it is likely that you would fear all dogs and keep your distance from all dogs.
Classical conditioning was first developed as an idea by Watson and Rayner in
1920.
Their theory was developed from their experiment with Little Albert. Little Albert was
a baby boy who enjoyed playing with a white rat, showing no fear at all of the rat. In
the experiment a hammer was used to hit a steel bar, making a loud noise close to
Albert's head every time that Albert reached for the rat. Albert, as you would expect,
was frightened by the noise. This was done every time Albert reached for the rat.
The result was that Albert developed a strong fear of the rat (also called a phobia)
even when no noise was made. The research illustrates how classical conditioning
works.
In the example above, the unconditioned stimulus (the loud noise) produced the
unconditioned response (fear). The conditioned stimulus (the white rat) is then linked
or associated with the unconditioned stimulus (the loud noise) and this produces the
conditioned response (fear of the rat).
To sum up:
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new behaviour is acquired through association
an unconditioned stimulus is paired with a neutral stimulus and the process of
association takes place
the result is a conditioned response to a conditioned stimulus.