Approaches: Behaviourist Approach

Question 1

What Is The Behaviourist Approach?

Answer 1

• A way of explaining behaviour in terms of what is observable and in terms of learning.
• It falls under learning approach.

Question 2

What Is Classical Conditioning?

Answer 2

• Learning through association.
• This occurs when two stimuli are repeatedly paired together - an unconditioned stimulus and a new neutral stimulus. The neutral stimulus eventually produces the same response that was first produced by the unconditioned stimulus alone.

Question 3

What Is Operant Conditioning?

Answer 3

• A form of learning in which behaviour is shaped and maintained by its consequences.
• Possible consequences of behaviour include positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement.

Question 4

What Is Reinforcement?

Answer 4

• A consequence of behaviour that increases the likelihood of that behaviour being repeated.
• It can be positive or negative.

Question 5

Behaviourist Approach Assumptions.

Answer 5

• All behaviour is learned from experience - humans are a blank slate.
• Only interested in studying behaviour that can be observed and measured.
• Uses lab experiments to try and gain more control and objectivity in their research.
• The basic processes that govern learning are the same in all species.

Question 6

Classical Conditioning Pavlov Experiment.

Answer 6

1) Before Conditioning
Food (unconditioned stimulus) –Response–> Dog Salivates (unconditioned response)

2) Before Conditioning
Bell (neutral stimulus) –Response–> Dog Doesn’t Salivates (no conditioned response)

3) During Conditioning
Bell (neutral stimulus) + Food (unconditioned response) –Response–> Dog Salivates (unconditioned response)

4) After Conditioning
Bell (conditioned stimulus) –Response–> Dog Salivates (conditioned response)

Question 7

What Is Unconditioned Stimulus?

Answer 7

• The stimulus that causes the reflex response before conditioning.
• It stimulus that naturally produces the response.

Question 8

What Is Unconditioned Response?

Answer 8

• The innate (reflexive) response to a stimulus that has not be conditioned.

Question 9

What Is The Neutral Stimulus?

Answer 9

• A stimulus that does not produce a response by itself.

Question 10

What Is Conditioned Stimulus?

Answer 10

• Initially the neutral stimulus, that after repeated pairings with the UCS, produces the CR when presented by itself.

Question 11

What Is Conditioned Response?

Answer 11

• The reflexive response that occurs after exposure to the conditioned stimulus.

Question 12

What Is Positive Reinforcement?

Answer 12

• Receiving a reward when a certain behaviour is performed.
• For example praise from a teacher for answering a question correctly.
• Increases the likelihood a certain behaviour is repeated.

Question 13

What Is Negative Reinforcement?

Answer 13

• Avoidance of an unpleasant stimulus that would be viewed as a punishment.
• For example, being told that if you don’t hand in your homework you would get a detention, therefore you hand in the homework to avoid negative consequence.
• Increases the likelihood a certain behaviour is repeated.

Question 14

Operant Conditioning Skinner Experiment.

Answer 14

• Skinner conducted experiments with rats and pigeons in a box called Skinner Box.
• The animal can be rewarded or punished when engaging in certain behaviours, such as pulling levers or pressing buttons.
• Positive reinforcement was investigated by rewarding the rat with food every time they pulled a lever. After many repetitions the rat would continue to pull the lever because they expected to receive food.
• Negative reinforcement was investigated by electrocuting the floor. The floor would not get electric shocks if the lever was pulled. After many repetitions the rat would continue to pull the lever to avoid the unpleasant stimulus of an electric shock.

Question 15

Strength: Evaluation - Scientific Credibility.

Answer 15

• Behaviourism has scientific credibility.
• It brought language and methods of the natural sciences to psychology and focused on the measurement of observable behaviour.
• This meant that research was objective and could be replicated.
• As a result, the approach was hugely influential in the development of psychology as a scientific method.

Question 16

Strength: Evaluation - Real Life Application.

Answer 16

• The approach has real life application.
• For example, token economy systems have been successfully used in prisons to modify prisoner behaviour.
• This shows how rewarding appropriate behaviour can change behaviour through operant conditioning.
• Treatments like this have an advantage as they require less effort from the patient so are suitable for individuals who may lack insight into their condition.

Question 17

Weakness: Evaluation - Highly Deterministic.

Answer 17

• This approach is highly deterministic.
• It suggests that all actions are determined by past experiences that have been conditioned.
• This ignores any possible influence that free will may have on behaviour.
• This is problematic as it may suggest people are not responsible for their behaviour.

Question 18

Weakness: Evaluation - Ethical Issues.

Answer 18

• There are ethical issues with using animals in research.
• Skinner exposed animals to stressful and adverse conditions by giving them shocks.
• This is not protecting animals from harm, which goes against ethical guidelines.
• Furthermore, the harm may not be necessary as some psychologists would argue that we cannot generalise the findings from animal research as humans may learn and respond to conditioning differently.