Learning Theories — Flashcards & Quiz

Key Points

• Classical conditioning (Pavlov): a neutral stimulus paired repeatedly with an unconditioned stimulus comes to elicit the same response. Dog salivating to a bell.
• Key terms: unconditioned stimulus/response (UCS/UCR), conditioned stimulus/response (CS/CR), acquisition, extinction, spontaneous recovery, generalisation, discrimination.
• Operant conditioning (Skinner): behaviour is shaped by its consequences. Reinforcement increases behaviour; punishment decreases it.
• Reinforcement schedules: fixed ratio, variable ratio, fixed interval, variable interval. Variable ratio (gambling) produces the most persistent behaviour.
• Observational learning (Bandura): learning by watching others. Bobo doll experiment showed children imitate aggressive models.
• Modern view: all three mechanisms contribute to real-world learning, with cognitive factors playing a larger role than early behaviourists acknowledged.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Confusing classical (stimulus-stimulus) with operant (behaviour-consequence) conditioning.
2. Mixing up positive/negative reinforcement (adding vs removing) with reinforcement/punishment (increasing vs decreasing behaviour).
3. Treating observational learning as just imitation — it involves attention, retention, reproduction and motivation.
4. Forgetting reinforcement schedules as a major topic.
5. Missing the Bobo doll experiment as canonical evidence for observational learning.

Exam Strategy

BSSS Unit 1 learning questions ask you to distinguish theories or apply them to scenarios. Method: (1) identify the type of learning (classical, operant, observational), (2) label the key components (UCS, CS, reinforcement type, model), (3) describe the mechanism, (4) provide real-world applications.

Revision Tip

The three learning theories each have signature terminology — drill a Revizi deck with each theory's key terms and a signature experiment.

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