Approaches: Learning Approaches (Behaviourist)

Question 1

Who found the behaviourist approach and why?

Answer 1

JB Watson in 1915. He rejected the vagueness of introspection instead focusing on how we are a product of our learning experience and environment.

Question 2

Who other than Watson are important to the behaviourist approach?

Answer 2

Ivan Pavlov with his theory of CC.

And B.F. Skinner, with his work of operant conditioning.

Question 3

What does the behaviourist approach say about us when we are born?

Answer 3

• We are born as ‘blank slates’. All we have at birth is capacity to learn.
• All behaviour is learned from the environment.

Question 4

What is the focus of the behaviourist approach?

Answer 4

Observable behaviour.

Question 5

What are the 3 types of learning based off behaviourist approach?

Answer 5

• Classical conditioning (CC).
• Operant conditioning (OC).
• Social learning theory (SLT).

Question 6

What do (UCS),(UCR),(NS),(CR),(CS) stand for?

Answer 6

• (UCS) = unconditioned stimulus.
• (UCR) = unconditioned response.
• (NS) =neutral stimulus. -(CS)= conditioned stimulus.
• (CR) = conditioned response.

Question 7

What is the basic assumption of behaviour?

Answer 7

-Behaviour is learnt by the environment. If we manipulate the environment, we can shape and manipulate behaviour.

Question 8

What is classical conditioning?

Answer 8

• Means learning by association.

- Learning is the process of associating a stimulus with a response.

Question 9

Who found classical conditioning?

Answer 9

Ivan Pavlov.

Question 10

What was the first step in Pavlov experiment? (Include stimulus and response).

Answer 10

• Pavlov established that food caused the dog to salivate.

- UCS (food) = UCR (saliva).

Question 11

What was the second step in Pavlov experiment? (Include UCR etc…)

Answer 11

-Pavlov established that a tone did not cause the dog to salivate.

Question 12

What was third step of Pavlov experiment ? (Include CR etc…)

Answer 12

• Presented tone with food. After a while the dog salivates in response to food.
• US (Food) + NS (Bell)= UCR (Saliva.

Question 13

What is the fourth step of Pavlov experiment. (Include UCR etc…)

Answer 13

• After several pairings, he found the dog salivates at the noise of the tone alone.
• Conditioned Stimulus (BELL) = Conditioned Response (SALIVA)

Question 14

What was the aim of Little Albert experiment (Watson and Rayner).

Answer 14

-To investigate whether using CC they could condition an emotional response (fear) into a human.

Question 15

What was the method of Little Albert?

Answer 15

Albert (11 months) would have a white rat in front of him, but when goes to touch it a loud noise would be made, scaring him.

Question 16

What were the results in Little Albert?

Answer 16

• Watson and Rayner found when the rat was presented alone, Albert became frightened.
• Proving behaviour is learnt. (CC).

Question 17

What is Operant Conditioning?

Skinner

Answer 17

Learning by consequences.

Question 18

What is a positive reinforcement?

Answer 18

Uses pleasant consequence to increase likelihood of behaviour being repeated. E.g. dog getting treat for sitting.

Question 19

What is a negative reinforcement?

Answer 19

Increase likelihood of behaviour being repeated by removing unpleasant consequences. (Do homework to avoid detention).

Question 20

What is punishment?

Answer 20

Decreases likelihood of behaviour being repeated by using unpleasant consequences. (Getting detention).

Question 21

What is Skinner box?

Answer 21

Animal learns to press button to get food. Food is positive consequence so they repeat hitting button.

Question 22

What are strengths of behaviourist approach?

Answer 22

• Replicable.
• Mainly quantitative data- easy to analyse.
• Can be applied to real world to explain everyday behaviour e.g phobias.

Question 23

Limitations of behaviourist approach?

Answer 23

• Ethical issues.
• Lack of qualitative data- not feelings known.
• Lack of ecological validity- due to highly controlled environment.