Understanding the Learning Approach in Psychology
The Learning Approach in Psychology
The learning approach proposes that behavior is acquired through learning experiences. This perspective considers mental processes and genetics as relatively unimportant in determining our behavior. Instead, the focus is on observable behaviors, viewing the investigation of mental processes and unconscious forces as unscientific and untestable.
The early 20th century saw a rejection of unscientific methods and a shift towards a more scientific study of human behavior. The Learning Approach uses laboratory experiments to observe responses to given stimuli. This is known as conditioning.
The approach considers that we are not restricted by our genetic make-up; we are only constrained by the environment we are brought up in. The approach puts forward three mechanisms of learning: classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and social conditioning.
Operant Conditioning: Learning Through Consequences
Unlike classical conditioning, which is learning through association, operant conditioning involves learning through consequence. B.F. Skinner developed the theory of operant conditioning and recorded the behavior of animals in response to different consequences. Skinner described the ABC model of operant conditioning to illustrate this theory:
- Antecedent: The chamber could present a stimulus (lights, noise) that triggers behavior.
- Behavior: A response that could be observed and measured as a result of the antecedent (lever pressing).
- Consequence: A reward or punishment followed the behavior (food, shock).
The stimulus-response association is only repeated or learned if the consequence of the pairing is a positive one. A negative consequence would weaken the stimulus-response link.
- Positive Reinforcement (PR): Giving something pleasurable to the animal following a desired behavior. This also results in the behavior being repeated.
- Negative Reinforcement (NR): Removing something unpleasant or uncomfortable in response to the desired behavior. This also results in the behavior being repeated.
The Law of Effect
This is learning through consequence. If we perform a behavior that is punished, we will not repeat the behavior. However, if we perform a behavior that is reinforced by a pleasant experience, we will repeat it. Similarly, we will repeat behavior in order to avoid something unpleasant. It is a trial and error learning. The stimulus-response link is repeated when reinforced; this is known as the law of effect, meaning that the effect/consequence of a behavior determines whether the behavior is repeated.