Approaches in psychology - BEHAVIOURIST APPROACH

Question 1

Sum up what Watson stated about behaviour is in 1930

Answer 1

All of our behaviour is determined by environmental experiences -> regardless of ability or talent

Question 2

What does the learning approach focus on?

Answer 2

How we are a product of our learning + incorporates both behaviourism + social learning theory

Environment + experience shape behaviour

Question 3

How is behaviour said to be learnt ?

Answer 3

From experience

Question 4

How is the behaviourist approach measured?

Answer 4

Ones that can be observed can only be scientifically measured.
Only these behaviours should be studied

Question 5

Explain the thought processes in the behaviourist approach

Answer 5

They are subjective + difficult to test.

Behaviourist psychologists acknowledge that the mind exists but it is unobservable it cannot be scientifically measured

Question 6

What is a valid way of studying behaviour through the behaviourists approach?

Answer 6

by studying animals behaviour because, they learn the same way as us so, results can be related + generalised

Question 7

how does the behaviourist approach oppose the biological approach?

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Define classical conditioning

Answer 8

Learning by associaton

Question 9

How does classical conditioning link with the behaviourist approach ?

Answer 9

Because it is one of the ways in which they interact with their environment to learn behaviour

Question 10

During classical conditioning, when does learning occur ?

Answer 10

When an association is made between a previously neutral stimulus and reflex response.
Reflex can be positive or negative

Question 11

During classical conditioning, explaining the feelings

Answer 11

Positive feeling will arise if the association of the stimulus is positive

Negative feeling will arise if the association of the stimulus is negative

Question 12

What study was carried out by Watson + Rayner in 1930?

Answer 12

‘little albert’

Question 13

Who carried out classical conditioning research into dogs ?

Answer 13

Pavlov

Question 14

In pavlova research, what key points did he discover

Answer 14

Stimulus generalistation
Stimulus discrimination
Time contiguity

Question 15

Explain stimulus generalisation which was found in Pavlov’s research

Answer 15

Dogs would still salivate if the pitch/tone varied.

Association was still made If stimulus had close characteristics

Question 16

Explain stimulus generalisation in the study of little Albert

Answer 16

He was frightened of many other fury white objects + animal not just the white rat

Question 17

Explain stimulus discrimination which was found in Pavlov’s research?

Answer 17

There is a cut-off point where the association can no longer be made. To be generalised, characteristics are too different

Question 18

Explain time/ temporal contiguity found in Pavlov’s research

Answer 18

Presentation of both stimulus need to be presented close together, to learn association.

If this does not occur, there is no association made

Question 19

Define operant conditioning

Answer 19

Learning by consequence of our behaviour

Question 20

What are the three ways in which operant conditioning can occur?

Answer 20

Postive reinforcement
Negative reinforcement
Punishment

Question 21

In operant continuing how is behaviour strengthened ?

Answer 21

Through positive + negative reinforcment

Question 22

In operant conditioning, how is behaviour weakened ?

Answer 22

Punishment

Question 23

Who carried out research into ‘law of effect” ?

Answer 23

Thorndike

Question 24

What does ‘law of effect’ mean?

Answer 24

Positive behaviour that is displayed is stamped in whereas undesirable behaviour is stamped out

Question 25

Explain Thorndikes research

Answer 25

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

Question 26

Who was influenced by Thorndikes’ research ?

Answer 26

Skinner

Question 27

Who is skinner ?

Answer 27

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.

Question 28

What did skinner carry out his experiment on?

Answer 28

Rats

Question 29

Explain Skinners research

Answer 29

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

Question 30

What did skinner develop to explain the principles of operant conditioning? explain

Answer 30

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

Question 31

What are the types of reinforcement ?

Answer 31

Continuous reinforcement 
Fixed Intervals 
Variable intervals 
Fixed ratio
Variable ratio

Question 32

What is continuous reinforcement ?

Answer 32

Every single response is reinforced

Question 33

what is fixed intervals ?

Answer 33

Getting reinforced every 30 seconds but the response has to occur at least once during the time

Question 34

What are variable intervals ?

Answer 34

Getting reinforced every certain amount of time but it varies for each trail i.e unpredictable

Question 35

What is fixed ratio?

Answer 35

Fixed no. of responses, is when a reinforcement is given

Question 36

What are variable ratios ?

Answer 36

From trail to trail, the reinforcement varies, so it could be for every 10 responses

Question 37

Give an example in real life of continuous reinforcement ?

Answer 37

Receiving a tip for ever customers served

Question 38

Give an example in real life of fixed intervals

Answer 38

Giving yourself a 10 min break for every 1 hour revised

Question 39

Give an example in real life of variable intervals

Answer 39

Receiving payment irregulary like a self employed person i.e when a job is complete

Question 40

Give an example in real life of fixed ratios

Answer 40

for self employed people, the more work they do, the more they are paid

Question 41

Give an example in real life of variable ratios

Answer 41

Gambling -> they never know when they will win

Question 42

Which is the most successful type of reinforcement in day to day life ?

Answer 42

Variable ratios because gamblers dont know when they will win so they will keep putting money in

Question 43

What are the strengths of the behaviourist approach ?

Answer 43

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

Question 44

What are the limitations of the behaviourist approach ?

Answer 44

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