5. APPROACHES (The Behaviourist Approach)

Question 1

What are the basic assumptions of the behaviourist approach?

Answer 1

1. Behaviour is learned from experience.
2. Only observable behaviour should be studied scientifically.
3. Psychologists should use lab experiments to maintain objectivity.
4. Basic processes of learning (classical and operant conditioning) are the same in all species.

Question 2

What is classical conditioning?

Answer 2

Classical conditioning is learning by association, where a neutral stimulus is paired with an unconditioned stimulus to produce a conditioned response. For example, a dog learns to salivate to a bell sound when it has been repeatedly paired with food.

Question 3

Who conducted the famous classical conditioning experiment with dogs?

Answer 3

Ivan Pavlov conducted the classical conditioning experiment with dogs, where he paired the sound of a bell with food, causing the dogs to salivate to the bell alone.

Question 4

What are the key terms associated with Pavlov’s classical conditioning experiment?

Answer 4

• Unconditioned stimulus (UCS): Food
• Unconditioned response (UCR): Salivation to food
• Conditioned stimulus (CS): Bell
• Conditioned response (CR): Salivation to the bell

Question 5

What is the concept of temporal association or contiguity in classical conditioning?

Answer 5

Temporal association or contiguity refers to the principle that learning occurs when a neutral stimulus is consistently paired with an unconditioned stimulus in time, leading to the association between the two.

Question 6

What was Watson and Rayner’s experiment with Little Albert?

Answer 6

Watson and Rayner conditioned Little Albert to fear rats by pairing the rat (neutral stimulus) with a loud noise (unconditioned stimulus). Over time, Albert developed a fear of rats, demonstrating classical conditioning.

Question 7

What is operant conditioning?

Answer 7

Operant conditioning is learning through consequences. Behaviour is strengthened or weakened based on reinforcement (positive or negative) or punishment.

Question 8

What are the types of reinforcement in operant conditioning?

Answer 8

1. Positive reinforcement: Giving a reward to encourage a behaviour.
2. Negative reinforcement: Removing an unpleasant stimulus to encourage a behaviour.
3. Punishment: Introducing an unpleasant consequence to reduce a behaviour.

Question 9

What was Skinner’s “Skinner box”?

Answer 9

Skinner’s Skinner box was an experimental setup used to study operant conditioning. It included a lever that an animal (e.g., rat or pigeon) could press to receive food (positive reinforcement) or to avoid an electric shock (negative reinforcement).

Question 10

How did Skinner demonstrate positive reinforcement?

Answer 10

Skinner placed a rat in a Skinner box, and whenever the rat pressed a lever, a food pellet was dispensed. This reinforcement increased the likelihood that the rat would press the lever again.

Question 11

How did Skinner demonstrate negative reinforcement?

Answer 11

Skinner subjected a rat to an electric shock and showed that when the rat pressed a lever, the shock would stop. The rat learned to press the lever to avoid discomfort, demonstrating negative reinforcement.

Question 12

What is the main criticism of Pavlov’s research regarding animal studies?

Answer 12

Critics argue that Pavlov’s research, using dogs, cannot be easily applied to human behaviour because humans are thought to have free will, unlike animals that may behave reflexively.

Question 13

What is a limitation of Skinner’s research regarding animal studies?

Answer 13

Skinner’s use of animals, such as rats, is criticized for not being fully representative of human behaviour, as humans are believed to have free will, which animals do not.

Question 14

How did Skinner contribute to the understanding of punishment in operant conditioning?

Answer 14

Skinner used punishment to reduce behaviours, such as electrifying the floor whenever a rat pressed the lever, which discouraged the rat from pressing it again.

Question 15

What are the ethical concerns regarding Skinner’s research?

Answer 15

Skinner’s experiments involved animals in confined spaces and subjected them to discomfort, raising concerns about the ethical treatment of animals and the potential harm caused during the experiments.

Question 16

What practical applications have emerged from the behaviourist approach?

Answer 16

• Systematic desensitization (based on classical conditioning) is used to treat phobias by replacing an anxiety response with a relaxation response.
• Token economy systems (based on operant conditioning) are used in institutions to reward desirable behaviours with tokens that can be exchanged for privileges.

Question 17

How does the behaviourist approach contribute to psychology as a science?

Answer 17

The behaviourist approach uses experimental methods to study observable behaviours, providing a rigorous, objective, and empirical way to investigate human and animal behaviour.

Question 18

What is a major criticism of the behaviourist approach in the nature vs nurture debate?

Answer 18

The behaviourist approach is criticized for being overly simplistic and favouring the nurture side of the debate by focusing solely on learned behaviour, while neglecting the role of biological factors such as genetics or hormones.

Question 19

What is a limitation of the behaviourist approach regarding determinism?

Answer 19

The behaviourist approach is criticized for being deterministic, as it suggests behaviour is entirely shaped by external influences (e.g., reinforcement), denying the role of free will in human actions.

Question 20

How has the behaviourist approach been useful in therapy?

Answer 20

The behaviourist approach has led to successful therapies, such as systematic desensitization for phobias and token economies for behaviour modification in institutional settings, showing practical applications in mental health treatment.

Question 21

Label the diagram:

Answer 21