Approaches In Psychology : The Behavourist Approach Flashcards
What is the behaviourist approach
A way of explaining behaviour in terms of what is observable and in terms of learning
What is an assumption of the behaviourist approach
Only interested in studying behaviour that can be measured and observed
It is not concerned with investigating mental processes of the mind because they were seen as irrelevant
Why did john b Watson reject introspection and what was the result of this
It involved too many concepts that were vague and difficult to measure
The result of this was that behaviourist tried to maintain more control and objectivity within their research and relied on LAB studies as the best way to do this
What do behaviourists believe
All behaviour is learned
They describe a baby’s mind as a blank slate and this is written on by experience
Following Darwin what did behaviourists suggest
The basic processes that govern learning are the same in all species
This meant that in behaviourist research, animals replace humans as experimental subjects
What are two important forms of learning
Classical conditioning
Operant conditioning
Who demonstrated classical conditioning and what year
IVAN PAVLOV (1927)
What is classical conditioning
Learning through association
Occurs when two stimuli are repeatedly paired together
UCS and a NS
NS eventually produces the same response that was first produced by UCS
How did Pavlov show classical conditioning
Pavlov showed how dogs could be conditioned to salivate to the sound of the bell if that sound was repeatedly presented at the same time they were given food
Gradually Pavlovs dogs learned to associate the sound of the bell (NS) with the food (UCS) and would produce salivation response (CS) every time they heard it
Overall what did Pavlov show
How a Neutral Stimulus can come to elicit a new learned response through association Occurs
What is operant conditioning
A form of learning in which behaviour is shaped and maintained by its consequences
Possible consequences of behaviour include reinforcement (+/-) and punishment
What did Skinner suggest
B.F. Skinner (1953) suggested that leaning is an active process whereby humans and animals operated on their environment.
Behaviour is shaped by its consequences
What is positive reinforcement
Receiving a reward when a certain behaviour is performed
For example, praise from a teacher for answering a question correctly in class
What is negative reinforcement
Occurs when an animal avoids something unpleasant
The outcome is a positive experience
For example, a rat may learn through negative reinforcement that pressing a red lever leads to an electric shock
What is punishment
An unpleasant consequence of behaviour
For example, being shouted at by the teacher during a lesson
What do positive and negative reinforcement do
Increase the likelihood the behaviour will be repeated
What does punishment do
Decrease the likelihood the behaviour will be repeated
What is Skinners box experiment
Skinner conducted experiments with rats and sometimes pigeons
Every time a rat activated a lever within the box it was rewarded with a pellet. From then on the rat would repeat the behaviour
Skinner also showed how rats could be conditioned to perform the same behaviour to avoid an unpleasant stimulus, an electric shock
What is one STRENGTH of the behaviourist approach
Based on well controlled research
Behaviourists focused on the measurement of observable behaviour within highly controlled lab settings
By breaking down behaviour into basic stimulus-response units, all other possible extraneous variables were removed allowing cause-and-effect relationships to be established.
For instance skinner was able to clearly demonstrate how reinforcement influenced an animals behaviour.
This suggests that behaviourist experiments have scientific credibility
Counterpoint of well controlled research (LIMITATION)
HOWEVER the problem with this is behaviourists may have oversimplified the learning process. By reducing behaviour to such simple components behaviourists may have ignored an important influence on learning - that of HUMAN THOUGHT.
Other approaches such as social learning theory and the cognitive approach have drawn attention to mental processes involved in learning.
This suggests that a learning is more complex than observable behaviour alone, and that private mental. Processes are also essential.
STRENGTH of behaviourist approach
Principles of conditioning have been applied to real-world behaviours and problems.
Operant conditioning is the basis of TOKEN ECONOMY SYSTEMS that have been used successfully in institutions such as prisons and psychiatric wards.
These work by rewarding appropriate behaviours with tokens that can be exchanged for privileges.
CLASSICAL CONDITIONING has been applied to the treatment of phobias.
This increases the value of the behaviourist approach because it has widespread application
LIMITATION of behaviourist approach
It sees all behaviour as conditioned by past conditioning experiences.
Skinner suggested that everything we do is a sum total of our reinforcement history.
When something happens we may think “I made that decision to do that” but, according to skinner out past conditioning history determined the outcome.
This ignores any possible influence that FREE WILL may have on our behaviour (SKINNER HIMSELF SAID THAT FREE WILL IS AN ILLUSION)
This is an extreme position and ignores the influence of conscious depiction making processes on behaviour as suggested by the cognitive approach
EXTRA EVALUATION
Although processes such as the Skinner box allowed behaviourists to maintain a high degree of control over their experimental subjects, many have questioned the ethics of conducting such experiments.
Animals were housed in harsh,cramped conditions and deliberately kept below their natural weight so they were always hungry.
Therefore this raises ethical issues.
