AQA PSYCHOLOGY - APPROACHES IN PSYCHOLOGY
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS VERIFIED 2024/2025
The Learning Approach
Behaviourism and Social Learning Theory
Behaviourism
A way of explaining behaviour in terms of what's observable and in terms of learning.
Classical Conditioning
Learning by association. Occurs when two stimuli are repeatedly paired together - an unconditioned
stimulus and a new 'neutral' stimulus. The neutral stimulus eventually produces the same response that
the unconditioned stimulus produced alone at the start.
Unconditioned Stimulus - UCS
In Classical Conditioning, the stimulus that inevitably produces an innate reflex response such as food
producing a salivation response.
Unconditioned Response - UCR
In Classical Conditioning, an innate reflex response to a stimulus such as salivating when presented with
food.
, Conditioned Stimulus - CS
In Classical Conditioning, the neutral stimulus (NS) becomes the CS after the NS has been paired with the
UCS. The NS now takes on the properties of the USC and produces the unconditioned response which is
now a conditioned response (CR)
Conditioned Response - CR
In Classical Conditioning, the response elicited by the conditioned stimulus (CS) e.g. a new association
has been learned so that the NS produces the UCR which is now called the CR.
Pavlov's Research
Classical conditioning was discovered by Ivan Pavlov in the early 1900s. He noticed that when the dog in
his laboratory heard footsteps of the person who brought him food, it started to salivate. Salivation is a
reflex response that occurs when an animal smells food.
Operant Conditioning
A form of learning where behaviour is shaped and maintained by its consequences. Possible
consequences of behaviour include positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement and punishment.
Positive Reinforcement
Receiving a reward when a certain behaviour is performed. It increases the likelihood of the behaviour
being performed again.
Negative Reinforcement
Occurs when an animal or human avoids a something unpleasant. It increases the likelihood of the
behaviour being performed again.
Punishment
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS VERIFIED 2024/2025
The Learning Approach
Behaviourism and Social Learning Theory
Behaviourism
A way of explaining behaviour in terms of what's observable and in terms of learning.
Classical Conditioning
Learning by association. Occurs when two stimuli are repeatedly paired together - an unconditioned
stimulus and a new 'neutral' stimulus. The neutral stimulus eventually produces the same response that
the unconditioned stimulus produced alone at the start.
Unconditioned Stimulus - UCS
In Classical Conditioning, the stimulus that inevitably produces an innate reflex response such as food
producing a salivation response.
Unconditioned Response - UCR
In Classical Conditioning, an innate reflex response to a stimulus such as salivating when presented with
food.
, Conditioned Stimulus - CS
In Classical Conditioning, the neutral stimulus (NS) becomes the CS after the NS has been paired with the
UCS. The NS now takes on the properties of the USC and produces the unconditioned response which is
now a conditioned response (CR)
Conditioned Response - CR
In Classical Conditioning, the response elicited by the conditioned stimulus (CS) e.g. a new association
has been learned so that the NS produces the UCR which is now called the CR.
Pavlov's Research
Classical conditioning was discovered by Ivan Pavlov in the early 1900s. He noticed that when the dog in
his laboratory heard footsteps of the person who brought him food, it started to salivate. Salivation is a
reflex response that occurs when an animal smells food.
Operant Conditioning
A form of learning where behaviour is shaped and maintained by its consequences. Possible
consequences of behaviour include positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement and punishment.
Positive Reinforcement
Receiving a reward when a certain behaviour is performed. It increases the likelihood of the behaviour
being performed again.
Negative Reinforcement
Occurs when an animal or human avoids a something unpleasant. It increases the likelihood of the
behaviour being performed again.
Punishment
