Approaches in psychology - BEHAVIOURIST APPROACH Flashcards
Sum up what Watson stated about behaviour is in 1930
All of our behaviour is determined by environmental experiences -> regardless of ability or talent
What does the learning approach focus on?
How we are a product of our learning + incorporates both behaviourism + social learning theory
Environment + experience shape behaviour
How is behaviour said to be learnt ?
From experience
How is the behaviourist approach measured?
Ones that can be observed can only be scientifically measured.
Only these behaviours should be studied
Explain the thought processes in the behaviourist approach
They are subjective + difficult to test.
Behaviourist psychologists acknowledge that the mind exists but it is unobservable it cannot be scientifically measured
What is a valid way of studying behaviour through the behaviourists approach?
by studying animals behaviour because, they learn the same way as us so, results can be related + generalised
how does the behaviourist approach oppose the biological approach?
It states that we are born on a blank slate ready for experience to write upon it, so there is no genetic influence on behaviour
Define classical conditioning
Learning by associaton
How does classical conditioning link with the behaviourist approach ?
Because it is one of the ways in which they interact with their environment to learn behaviour
During classical conditioning, when does learning occur ?
When an association is made between a previously neutral stimulus and reflex response.
Reflex can be positive or negative
During classical conditioning, explaining the feelings
Positive feeling will arise if the association of the stimulus is positive
Negative feeling will arise if the association of the stimulus is negative
What study was carried out by Watson + Rayner in 1930?
‘little albert’
Who carried out classical conditioning research into dogs ?
Pavlov
In pavlova research, what key points did he discover
Stimulus generalistation
Stimulus discrimination
Time contiguity
Explain stimulus generalisation which was found in Pavlov’s research
Dogs would still salivate if the pitch/tone varied.
Association was still made If stimulus had close characteristics
Explain stimulus generalisation in the study of little Albert
He was frightened of many other fury white objects + animal not just the white rat
Explain stimulus discrimination which was found in Pavlov’s research?
There is a cut-off point where the association can no longer be made. To be generalised, characteristics are too different
Explain time/ temporal contiguity found in Pavlov’s research
Presentation of both stimulus need to be presented close together, to learn association.
If this does not occur, there is no association made
Define operant conditioning
Learning by consequence of our behaviour
What are the three ways in which operant conditioning can occur?
Postive reinforcement
Negative reinforcement
Punishment
In operant continuing how is behaviour strengthened ?
Through positive + negative reinforcment
In operant conditioning, how is behaviour weakened ?
Punishment
Who carried out research into ‘law of effect” ?
Thorndike
What does ‘law of effect’ mean?
Positive behaviour that is displayed is stamped in whereas undesirable behaviour is stamped out
Explain Thorndikes research
He placed cats into a puzzle box + observed how they managed to escape.
When they had learned that they had to pull the latch too escape, they did this straight away in each trial
Who was influenced by Thorndikes’ research ?
Skinner
Who is skinner ?
Major force in the behaviourism movement.
He focused around work in labs on mails where he investigated the role of reward and punishment in shaping behaviour.
What did skinner carry out his experiment on?
Rats
Explain Skinners research
Designed a puzzle box, where if the rats pressed a lever they would get a pellet of food.
Had speakers, lights + electrified floor.
Rats learned continuous reinforcement = they learned that every time they would press the lever, they would get a pellet of food
What did skinner develop to explain the principles of operant conditioning? explain
ABC MODEL
ANTECEDENTS -> behaviour carried out prior to the behaviour being performed i.e skinner may have flashed lights
BEHAVIOURS -> these are operants i.e the one in the rats case is pressing lever
CONSEQUENCES -> after these operants so the result i.e rats case is getting food pellet
What are the types of reinforcement ?
Continuous reinforcement Fixed Intervals Variable intervals Fixed ratio Variable ratio
What is continuous reinforcement ?
Every single response is reinforced
what is fixed intervals ?
Getting reinforced every 30 seconds but the response has to occur at least once during the time
What are variable intervals ?
Getting reinforced every certain amount of time but it varies for each trail i.e unpredictable
What is fixed ratio?
Fixed no. of responses, is when a reinforcement is given
What are variable ratios ?
From trail to trail, the reinforcement varies, so it could be for every 10 responses
Give an example in real life of continuous reinforcement ?
Receiving a tip for ever customers served
Give an example in real life of fixed intervals
Giving yourself a 10 min break for every 1 hour revised
Give an example in real life of variable intervals
Receiving payment irregulary like a self employed person i.e when a job is complete
Give an example in real life of fixed ratios
for self employed people, the more work they do, the more they are paid
Give an example in real life of variable ratios
Gambling -> they never know when they will win
Which is the most successful type of reinforcement in day to day life ?
Variable ratios because gamblers dont know when they will win so they will keep putting money in
What are the strengths of the behaviourist approach ?
Scientific methods are used
Takes nurture side as behaviour is said to be learnt
Applied in prison + schools as the ideas are used to help change behaviour
What are the limitations of the behaviourist approach ?
Throughts + cognitive process influences are not take into account as they are not considered observable
Deterministic - argues that we control our behaviour
Spontaneous human behaviour is not easily explained by classical + operant conditioning
Due to complexity of behaviour its said that as they use animal behaviour, it is not appropriate -> but it can be said that is is more ethical than humans
