Approaches Flashcards
John Locke (1632-1704)
Locke proposed empiricism which later formed the basis of the behaviourist approach
Empiricism
The idea that all experience can be obtained through the senses, and that human beings inherit neither knowledge or instincts
Introspection
The process by which a person gains knowledge about his or her own mental and emotional states
Allows us to observe our inner world
What did Wundt believe introspection could do
Allow us to observe mental processes such as memory, feelings and perception
Problem using introspection to investigate ‘non-observable’ responses
It is subjective
People may lie, reducing validity and reliability
Many mental processes do not happen consciously
What was the new scientific approach to psychology based on
All behaviour is seen as being caused
If behaviour is determined by a cause then it should be possible to predict how humans would behave in different conditions
Behaviourist approach
Studying behaviour that can be observed and measured
Uses lab experiments to create a controlled and objective environment
Suggested that the basic processes that govern learning are the same in all species
Types of conditioning
Classical conditioning
Operant conditioning
Classical conditioning
Known as stimulus response learning
Works by building up an association between two stimuli
Strengths of classical conditioning
Therapies - aversion therapy or systematic desensitisation
Advertising - link emotion with a product even when seen separately
UCS in Pavlov’s study
Unconditioned stimulus - food
UCR in Pavlov’s study
Unconditioned response - salivation
NS in Pavlov’s study
Neutral stimulus - Bell
CS in Pavlov’s study
Conditioned stimulus - Bell
CR in Pavlov’s study
Conditioned response - Salivation
Before conditioning
UCS —> UCR
During conditioning
UCS + NS —> UCR
After conditioning
CS —> CR
Operant conditioning
Skinner believed that ‘behaviour is shaped and maintained by consequences’, which were reinforcement or punishment
Skinners experiment
Skinner taught rats to learn a specific response. He developed ways of reinforcing rats using food pellets, since rats were hungry he rewarded them. E.g. food was only released when the red light was on and not the green light. Rats quickly learnt to press the lever when the red light was on
Consequences according to Skinner
Positive reinforcement
Negative reinforcement
Punishment
Positive reinforcement
Receiving a reward when a certain behaviour is performed
E.g. praise from a teacher when answering a question
Increases likelihood of behaviour
Negative reinforcement
When a person avoids something unpleasant. The avoidance of that thing is the negative reinforcement
E.g. a student hands in an essay so as not to be told off
Increases likelihood of behaviour
Punishment
An unpleasant consequence of behaviour
E.g. being shouted at by a teacher during a lesson
Decreases likelihood of behaviour
Neutral stimulus
Any environmentally stimulus that does not produce a behavioural response
Unconditioned stimulus
Any stimulus that produces a natural, unlearnt behavioural response
Unconditioned response
Any response which occurs naturally without learning
Conditioned stimulus
A stimulus that has been associated with an UCS. It now produces the same response as the UCS on its own
Conditioned response
A learnt behaviour that is shown in response to a learnt stimulus
Social learning theory
Different way in which people learn through observation and imitation of others within a social context
Bridge between behaviourism and cognitive approach
Steps in SLT
Modelling Observation Imitation Identification Vicarious reinforcement
Attention
The extent to which we notice certain behaviours
Retention
How well the behaviour is remembered
Motor reproduction
The ability of the observe to perform the behaviour
Motivation
The will to perform the behaviour which is determined by whether or not the behaviour was rewarded or punished
Strength of classical conditioning
Based on scientific and empirical evidence —> reproducible (higher validity)
Tangible explanation —> easier to understand and apply
Weaknesses of classical conditioning
CR doesn’t become established —> after no. of times CS is seen w/out UCS it doesn’t produces CR
Strength of operant conditioning
Findings are simple enough to implement