Approaches - studies Flashcards
1
Q
Pavlov’s dogs
-Classical conditioning (description)
A
- Pavlov noticed that whenever his assistant walked into the lab, his dogs would start salivating as the doors opened
- Pavlov theorised that the dogs had learnt to associate the movement of the door to the imminent food
- When dogs hear a bell there is no reflex response. It means nothing to them
- So, Pavlov started ringing a bell whenever food was delivered to the dog
- Over time, the sound of the bell became associated with the food. Eventually, the dogs would salivate at the sound of a bell without any food present at all -> this is an unconscious reflex in that you cannot consciously start salivating
2
Q
Pavlov’s dogs
-Classical conditioning (diagram)
A
- Before conditioning
food ->response->salivation
Food=unconditioned stimulus + salivation=unconditioned response
2.Before conditioning
bell->response->no salivation
Bell=neutral stimulus +no salivation=no conditioned response
3.During conditioning
bell+food-> response-> salivation
Salivation=unconditioned response
4.After conditioning
bell-> response-> salivation
Bell=conditioned stimulus + salivation=conditioned response
3
Q
Skinners rat’s (1984)
-Operant conditioning (procedure)
A
- Skinner created a box that had an electrified floor that could be used to punish the rats into modifying their behaviour
- The box contained a lever that would release food into it, encouraging the adoption of that behaviour in the future. The pellet of food would act as a positive reinforcer, the electrified floor is the punishment and the avoidance of the electrified floor is the negative reinforce
- Operant conditioning works on the basis that we modify our behaviour based on rewards and punishment
4
Q
Skinners rat’s (1984)
-Operant conditioning (results)
A
- Skinner placed a hungry rat in the box. The box contained a lever on one side and it would accidently knock the lever, dispensing a pellet of food
- The rat learned quickly to press the lever for food (positive reinforcement)
- Skinner placed the rat in the box and there would be an electric current which caused some discomfort. The rat learnt quickly that when placed in the box, to go straight to the lever otherwise there would be an electrical shock/current (negative reinforcement)
