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QLDPsychologyQuick questions
Unit 3: Individual thinking
Quick questions on Theories of learning: classical, operant and observational learning of behaviour (QCE Psychology Unit 3)
3short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is classical conditioning?Show answer
Classical conditioning is learning through association between two stimuli. Ivan Pavlov (1902) demonstrated it with dogs: food (an unconditioned stimulus, UCS) naturally caused salivation (an unconditioned response, UCR). By repeatedly pairing a bell (a neutral stimulus) with food, the bell alone eventually triggered salivation. The bell became a conditioned stimulus (CS) and the salivation a conditioned response (CR).
What is operant conditioning?Show answer
Operant conditioning is learning through consequences. Edward Thorndike's law of effect stated that behaviours followed by satisfying consequences are strengthened. B.F. Skinner systematised this using the Skinner box.
What is observational learning?Show answer
Observational (social) learning is learning by watching others, without direct reinforcement.
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