Approaches Flashcards
The behaviourist approach - what are the assumptions?
Interested in studying behaviour that can be observed and measured (so uninterested in mental processes). This means that behaviourist reject introspection as it is seen as too vague. As a result they rely on lab studies in order to maintain control and objectivity within their research.
They believe that all behaviour is learned and that a babies mind in a ‘blank slate’ that is written on with experience.
They also argue that the basic processes that govern learning are the same in all species, and so animals can replace humans as experimental subjects.
(led to research into classical and operant conditioning by Pavlov and Skinner).
The behaviourist approach - Describe classical and operant as explanations for learning.
Pavlov - Classical Conditioning (learning through association)
Pavlov showed how dogs could be conditioned to salivate at the sound of a bell if the sound (a stimulus) was repeatedly presented at the same time as they were given food (another stimulus) as the dogs learned to associated food with that sound.
UCS > UCR
NS + UCS
CS > CR
Skinner - OPERANT CONDITIONING (learning is an active process whereby we operate on our environment, this is shaped by its consequences) Skinner explored this using rats.
POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT - receiving a reward when a certain behaviour is performed. (a rat pressing a lever would lead to a food pellet being released)
NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT - avoiding something unpleasant. rats pressing a lever leads to avoidance of an electric shock)
PUNISHMENT - an unpleasant consequence of behaviour.
The behaviourist approach - Evaluate this approach as an explanation for behaviour.
(+) SCIENTIFIC CREDIBILITY - based on well controlled research meaning all extraneous variables were removed as behaviourists break down behaviour into basic stimulus response units. (can show causal relationships)
(-) REDUCTIONIST - oversimplified the learning process which ignored the influence of other factors such as human thought, learning is more complex than observable behaviour alone.
(+) REAL WORLD APPLICATION - token economy systems.
(-) ENVIRONTMENTAL DETERMINISM - sees all behaviour as conditioned by past conditioning experiences. Therefore it ignores the influence of conscious decision - making processes on behaviour.
(-) ETHICAL ISSUES - is the use of animals ethical????
