Approaches

Question 1

Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)

Answer 1

Something that automatically produces a response.

Question 2

Unconditioned response (UCR)

Answer 2

The automatic response to the UCS

Question 3

Neutral stimulus (NS)

Answer 3

A stimulus which doesn’t ordinarily produce a response on its own

Question 4

Conditioned stimulus (CS)

Answer 4

A stimulus that begins to produce a reflexive response (previously the NS)

Question 5

Conditioned response (CR)

Answer 5

The response generated by the CS

Question 6

Classical Conditioning

Answer 6

Learning through association

Question 7

Classical Conditioning Steps

Answer 7

Prior to conditioning;
Unconditioned Stimulus, produces and Unconditioned response
Then a Neutral stimulus is introduced.
During Conditioning;
The Neutral Stimulus is now associated with the Unconditioned Stimulus
After Conditioning;
The Neutral stimulus becomes the Conditioned Stimulus.
Thus without the Unconditioned Stimulus the now Conditioned Stimulus (previously the Neutral Stimulus) now stimulates a conditioned response.

Question 8

Pavlov (1927)

Answer 8

Investigation; Salivation in Dogs.
Gave a dog food; UCS.
Produced a UCR (salivation).
Associated the presence of the food to the sound of a bell (NS)
After a while conditioning took place.
Then the bell (NS) becomes a CS
And Salivation becomes a CR.
When Pavlov removed the Unconditioned Stimulus, he noted that the Dog still salivated.

Question 9

Features Of Pavlov’s Research.

Answer 9

Stimulus Generalisation; if the Neutral Stimulus/ Conditioned Stimulus is presented with a slight difference, the same Conditioned response will be made.

Question 10

Features Of Pavlov’s Research.

Answer 10

Timing; “the law of temporal contiguity”. If the time between the Unconditioned Stimulus (the presentation of the food), and the Conditioned Stimulus (the bell) is too great, conditioning will not occur.

Question 11

Features Of Pavlov’s Research.

Answer 11

Extinction; If repeat attempts are made for an Unconditioned Response to be made with absence of the Unconditioned Stimulus, there is a loss of a conditioned response.

Question 12

Features Of Pavlov’s Research.

Answer 12

Spontaneous Recovery; If the CS and the UCS are paired together then the link between the 2 are made more quickly.

Question 13

Evaluation of Pavlov’s research.(-)

Answer 13

(-)The use of animals does not necessarily tell us much about human behaviour
What are some of the differences between animals and humans?
Therefore the findings of animal research can’t necessarily be extrapolated to human behaviour- meaning the research only provides limited support for the behaviourist approach

Question 14

Evaluation of Pavlov’s research. (+)

Answer 14

(+) Has led to the development of treatments for phobias- systematic desensitisation works on the principle of creating a new non-fearful association for the object of the phobia (e.g. associating it with relaxation instead of anxiety to produce a calm response). Therefore, this approach has led to an effective treatment that can help people in real-life

Question 15

Operant Conditioning.

Answer 15

Learning through Consequence.

Question 16

Reinforcement

Answer 16

A consequence that means behaviour is more likely to be repeated in the future. The response is therefore strengthened.

Question 17

Primary Reinforcer

Answer 17

A stimulus that is biologically necessary for the organism. Eg; food water sex

Question 18

Primary reinforcement

Answer 18

A positive consequence in the form of a reward.

(Addition of a positive stimulus). Eg; giving money

Question 19

Negative reinforcement

Answer 19

Removal of a negative stimulus. Eg; giving students less homework/

Question 20

Secondary Reinforcer

Answer 20

Do not have innate value but can be still motivating. It can lead to primary reinforcers. For example, money.
Or owning a car is seen as desirable as it could encourage mating.