Approaches- Behaviourism Flashcards
Main beliefs of behaviourism
-All behaviour is learned
-Animals behave in the same way as humans so can be used in experiments
-Only concerned with observable behaviour
Theory of Classical Conditioning
Behaviour is learned by association
Unconditioned stimulus
A stimulus that causes an innate, unconscious response.
Unconditioned response
An innate response to an unconditioned stimuli.
Neutral stimulus
Something in the environment that elicits no innate response.
Conditioned stimulus
A previously neutral stimulus that is learned to create a response
Conditioned response
The learned response of a being reacting to a conditioned stimulus
Year of Pavlov’s dog experiment
1902
Aim of Pavlov 1902
Investigate how animals learn by association
What environment were Pavlov’s dogs put in
Restricted in a harness
What type of experiment is Pavlov (1902)
Laboratory
How was Pavlov’s experiment scientific
Used test tubes inserted into the dog’s cheeks to measure saliva produced.
What was the unconditioned stimulus in Pavlov 1902
The dogs food
What was the unconditioned response in Pavlov 1902
Salivation for food
What was the neutral stimulus in Pavlov 1902
A bell
What was the conditioned stimulus in Pavlov 1902
A bell
What was the conditioned response in Pavlov 1902
Salivation for a bell
Findings of Pavlov 1902
Bell became the conditioned stimulus and elicited a conditioned response of salivation
Conclusion of Pavlov 1902
Animals learn by association
Two criticisms of Pavlov 1902
-Low generalisability to humans
-Ethical debates over using animal experimentation
What is extinction
When a conditioned pairing decays (is forgotten) over time . CS is temporary unless occasionally paired back with the UCS.
Stimulus generalisation
When a similar stimulus creates the conditioned response
Timing
The neutral stimulus has to be paired with the UCS in a small time frame. The neutral stimulus also has to come before the UCS
Spontaneous recovery
After extinction occurs if the previously conditioned stimulus is paired again with the UCS then the association will be made faster than it originally took
Operant conditioning
Learning is an active process which organisms operate on their environment causing consequences
Process of operant conditioning
Behaviour
Consequence
Impact on likelihood of repetition.
Positive reinforcement
Receiving a reward for a behaviour, making it more likely to be repeated
Negative reinforcement
A behaviour causes an unpleasant situation to end, behaviour is more likely to be repeated
Punishment
Receiving an unpleasant consequence meaning the behaviour causing it is less likely to be repeated
Aim of Skinner’s 1953 experiment
To investigate the impact of consequences on learning behaviour
Procedure of Skinner 1953
Placed fasted rats in controlled setting
Gave consequence each time target behaviour was exhibited:
Exp 1. Pressed lever for sugar pellet
Exp 2. Pressed lever turned off electric shock floor.
Conclusion of Skinner 1953
Learning is a result of experiencing the consequences of a behaviour.
Criticisms of Skinner 1953
-Hard to generalise to human population
-Ethical issues surrounding animal usage.
