Developmental psychology in learning theories

Overview

Recall questions on development as continuous rather than staged, gender role acquisition, media models, and how this differs from Piaget.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   How do learning theories explain development?

   Model answer

   As the accumulation of patterns of reward and punishment, with behaviour shaped continuously by its consequences rather than passing through stages.

2. 2

   How does social learning theory explain development?

   Model answer

   Through observation and imitation of models, with vicarious reinforcement determining which observed behaviours are reproduced.

3. 3

   Why do learning theories describe development as continuous rather than staged?

   Model answer

   Because conditioning operates the same way at every age, so there is no qualitative change from one period to the next.

4. 4

   How does social learning theory explain the acquisition of gender roles?

   Model answer

   Children observe same-sex models, are reinforced for gender-typical behaviour and punished for departures from it, so the role is learned rather than unfolding.

5. 5

   What role does the media play in development according to social learning theory?

   Model answer

   It supplies symbolic models whose behaviour and consequences are observed, which is why Bandura extended the Bobo doll work to filmed models.

6. 6

   How does the concept of self-efficacy develop, according to Bandura?

   Model answer

   From mastery experiences, from watching similar others succeed, from persuasion and from interpretation of one's own arousal.

Other ways to work this

The same content, four other ways.

What is inside Levo

Six ways to work the same material.