3. The Learning Approach: Behaviourism AO1 Flashcards
What is the behavioural approach concerned with?
Studying behaviour that can be observed and measured - not concerned with mental processes
What was rejected by behaviourists and why?
Introspection as it’s concepts were vague and difficult to measure
How did behaviourists maintain control?
Maintained control and objectivity within research through lab studies
What do behaviourists suggest about animals?
The processes that govern learning are the same in all species, so animals can replace humans as experimental subjects
What is classical conditioning?
Learning through association
Who studied classical conditioning?
Pavlov
What was Pavlov’s study?
Conditioning dogs to salivate when a bell rings
Outline the process of classical conditioning
UCS (food) –> UCR (salivation)
NS (bell) –> No response
NS + UCS
CS (bell) –> CR (salivation)
What did Pavlov show?
How a neutral stimulus can elicit a new learning response through association
Who studied operant conditioning?
Skinner
Describe the idea behind operant conditioning
Learning is an active process whereby humans and animals operate on their environment
What is operant conditioning?
Where behaviour is shaped and maintained by its consequences
Outline Skinner’s research
Rats were put into specially designed cages and when rat activated the level it was rewarded with a pellet of food
What did Skinner find?
A desirable consequence led to behaviour being repeated - would also be true of avoiding negative consequences such as an electric shock
What are the three types of consequences of behaviour?
- Positive reinforcement
- Negative reinforcement
- Punishment
