Approaches - Behaviourism

Question 1

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Define Classical Conditioning:

Answer 1

A type of learning that happens unconsciously. When you learn through classical conditioning, an automatic conditioned response is paired with a specific stimulus, This creates a behaviour.

Question 2

What is an unconditioned stimulus?

Answer 2

An unconditioned stimulus is one that unconditionally, naturally and automatically triggers a response. The response takes place without any prior learning e.g the smell of the food is the unconditioned stimulus.

Question 3

What is a neutral stimulus?

Answer 3

Creates a response but one which is not desired. A neutral stimulus doesn’t trigger any particular response , but when used together with an unconditioned stimulus, it can effectively stimulate learning. E.g the sound of the bell when it is initially presented, the neutral stimulus has no effect on behaviour.

Question 4

What is the conditioned response?

Answer 4

The learned response to the previously neutral stimulus. The previously neutral stimulus will then evoke the response all on its own. At this point, the response becomes known as the conditioned response.

Question 5

What is the unconditioned response?

Answer 5

An unlearned response that occurs naturally in reaction to the unconditioned stimulus. For example, if the smell is the unconditioned stimulus, the feeling of hunger in response to the smell of food is the unconditioned response.

Question 6

What did Skinner claim?

Answer 6

Skinner claimed that all behaviour is learnt as a result of consequences in our environment. This is operant conditioning.

Question 7

What is a Skinner box?

Answer 7

A Skinner box is an animal chamber used in animal psychology to test a hypothesis. The Skinner box was a controlled environment. The sound proof walls meant that the rat and therefore the experiment was unaffected by outside influences or interactions.

Question 8

What is reinforcement?

Answer 8

A consequence of behaviour that increases the likelihood of that behaviour being repeated.

Question 9

What is a punishment?

Answer 9

A consequence of behaviour that decreases the likelihood of the behaviour being repeated. Can be positive (giving someone something as a punishment) or negative (taking something away as a punishment).

Question 10

How did Skinner show negative reinforcement worked?

Answer 10

By placing a rat in his Skinner box and then subjecting it to an unpleasant electric current which caused it some discomfort. As the rat moved about the box it would accidentally knock the lever. Immediately it did so the electric current would be switched off. The rats quickly learned to go straight to the lever after a few times of being put in the box. The consequence of escaping the electric current ensured that they would repeat the action again and again.

Question 11

Q
Who founded Behaviourism?

Answer 11

J B Watson

Question 12

When was Behaviourism founded?

Answer 12

1915

Question 13

What did Behaviourism reject?

Answer 13

Behaviourism rejected the vagueness of introspection and how difficult it was to measure.

Question 14

What did Behaviourism focus on?

Answer 14

How we are a product of our learning, experiences and environment.

Question 15

What do we learn new behaviour through?

Answer 15

Operant and Classical conditioning

Question 16

What is a response?

Answer 16

any reaction in the presence of the stimulus

Question 17

What is a stimulus?

Answer 17

anything, internal or external, that brings about a response

Question 18

Behaviourism believes we are all born a ____ _____.

Answer 18

blank slate

Question 19

What is a strength of behaviourism?

Answer 19

Skinner relied on the experimental method, using controlled conditions. Therefore the researchers are able to establish cause and effect relationships between the consequences of behaviour (positive or negative) and the frequency of its future occurrence, supporting the internal validity of the approach.

Question 20

What is a weakness of behaviourism?

Answer 20

Determinism is the idea that our behaviour is shaped or controlled by internal or external forces beyond our control rather than our free will to do something. The behaviourist approach sees all behaviour as determined by past experiences that have been conditioned. Therefore the behaviourist approach is accused of environmental determinism. This ignores any possible influence that free will may have on behaviour. Whilst this is potentially more scientific, it could have the negative consequence of people not taking responsibility for their actions.

Question 21

What can Behaviourism be applied to in ‘real life’?

Answer 21

Flooding, systematic desensitisation to treat faulty thinking i.e phobias

Question 22

Free will vs Determinism?

Answer 22

Environmental determinism ; behaviourists suggests that all behaviour is controlled by something as simple as a stimulus-response association, i.e classical conditioning is an example of environmental determinism. Behaviourists argue that humans have little choice in their behaviour, and our behaviour is simply the product of environmental learning.

Question 23

Nature vs Nurture?

Answer 23

The behavioural approach suggests that all behaviour is learned, it falls on the nurture side of the debate, in which our experiences and surroundings shape our behaviour directly rather than any internal or biological factors. Behaviourists believe that we are all born a ‘blank slate’ suggesting at birth the mind is blank and throughout life, the slate is filled while behaviour is shaped through learning.

Question 24

Is the behaviourist approach scientific?

Answer 24

Positive- this approach is highly objective and experimentally based. By focusing only on responses that can be accurately measured, it aligns itself with the rigour of the scientific method more than the other approaches. This also allows for a high degree of replication, which is an important part of the scientific process.

Question 25

What is positive reinforcement?

Answer 25

Adding a stimulus to increase/decrease a behaviour

Question 26

What is negative reinforcement?

Answer 26

Removing a stimulus to increase/ decrease a behaviour

Question 27

What is the aim of punishment?

Answer 27

To decrease behaviour

Question 28

What is the aim of reward?

Answer 28

To increase behaviour

Question 29

What is extinction?

Answer 29

Stopping reinforcement will results in the behaviour stopping over time