Psychology and Sociology 20 flashcards ~10 min

Learning Theories and Conditioning

About this deck

How do humans and animals learn new behaviors? This deck of 20 flashcards covers the major learning theories tested in introductory and A-Level/AP Psychology, starting with classical conditioning — Pavlov's famous experiments with dogs, and the key terms unconditioned/conditioned stimulus and response. You'll then move into operant conditioning, covering B.F. Skinner's work on reinforcement and punishment, the difference between positive and negative reinforcement, and concepts like shaping, extinction, and schedules of reinforcement. The deck also introduces social learning theory through Albert Bandura's Bobo doll experiment, covering observational learning and self-efficacy, before finishing with cognitive learning concepts like latent learning and the Little Albert experiment's ethical implications. Suited to A-Level and AP Psychology students, this deck focuses on connecting each theorist and experiment to the specific concept it demonstrated, which is exactly how exam questions tend to test this material.

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Learning through association, where a neutral stimulus becomes linked with a stimulus that naturally triggers a response.

Ivan Pavlov.

A stimulus that naturally triggers a response without prior learning (e.g., food causing salivation).

A previously neutral stimulus that, after association, triggers a learned response (e.g., a bell causing salivation).

Learning through consequences — behaviors are strengthened or weakened by reinforcement or punishment.

B.F. Skinner.

Adding a pleasant stimulus to increase a behavior.

Removing an unpleasant stimulus to increase a behavior.

Adding an unpleasant stimulus to decrease a behavior.

Removing a pleasant stimulus to decrease a behavior.

The gradual weakening and disappearance of a learned response when it's no longer reinforced.

Reinforcing successive approximations of a desired behavior until the full behavior is learned.

A pattern determining how often a behavior is reinforced (e.g., fixed ratio, variable interval).

Variable ratio schedule.

Learning that occurs through observing and imitating others' behavior.

Albert Bandura.

Children imitate aggressive behavior they observe in adults, supporting observational learning.

An individual's belief in their own ability to succeed at a task.

Learning that occurs without reinforcement and isn't demonstrated until there's a reason to do so.

It conditioned fear in an infant without consent or follow-up treatment, violating modern ethical standards.