4.2 Behaviourist Approach

Question 1

What is the behaviourist approach?

Answer 1

A way of explaining behaviour in a terms of what is observable and in terms of learning

Question 2

What is classical conditioning?

Answer 2

Learning by association (when 2 stimuli are paired together, unconditioned and neutral)

Question 3

What is operant conditioning?

Answer 3

Learning through reinforcement (behaviour is shaped and maintained by consequences)

Question 4

What is reinforcement?

Answer 4

A consequence of behaviour that affects the likelihood of behaviour being repeated. Can be positive or negative

Question 5

What is punishment?

Answer 5

When undesirable behaviour produces unpleasant consequences (behaviour will decrease in frequency)

Question 6

Describe Pavlovs research into classical conditioning

Answer 6

• Showed how dogs could be conditioned to salivate to sound of bell
• Sound was repeated at same time dogs given food
• Dogs learned to associate sound of bell (neutral stimulus) with food (unconditioned stimulus)
• Dogs produced salivation response each time they heard bell (conditioned response)

Question 7

Describe Skinners research into operant conditioning

Answer 7

• Showed how rats could be conditioned to repeat same behaviour
• Positive reinforcement: every time rat activated a lever within the box, it was awarded with food pellet
• Negative reinforcement: pull lever to avoid unpleasant stimulus e.g electric shock

Question 8

AO3 for behaviourist approach

Answer 8

1. Well-controlled research
Measures observable behaviour in controlled lab settings, behaviour broken down into stimulus-response units, extraneous variables removed, cause-effect relationships established e.g skinner, scientific credibility

2. Real-world application
Operant conditioning basis of token economies e.g prisons and psychiatric wards, reward appropriate behaviour with exchange of privileges, classical conditioning used in treatment of phobias, approach has increased value

3. Environmental determinism
Views all behaviour as conditioned by past conditioning experiences, Skinner suggested everything we do is sum total of reinforcement history, ignores influence of free will on behaviour (Skinner claimed free will is an illusion), influence of conscious decision making processes ignored