APPROACHES: The Behaviourist Approach Flashcards
What is the Behaviourist Approach?
The behaviourist approach suggests that the environment determines behaviour, so all behaviours are learnt through experience.
what does the behaviourist approach focus on?
It focuses on external and observable behaviours that can be measured, so that behaviour can be explained.
what did Pavlov research in 1927?
Classical conditioning
what is classical conditioning?
Learning through association- when a neutral stimulus is associated with a normal stimulus.
UCS
unconditioned stimulus
UCR
unconditioned response
CS
conditioned stimulus
CR
conditione response
NS
neutral stimulus
What did Skinner research in 1953?
Operant Conditioning
what is operant conditioning?
when behaviour is shaped by its consequences such as reinforcement or punishment
what is Positive Reinforcement?
receiving a reward when a certain behaviour is performed.
what is Negative Reinforcement?
behaviour is followed by the removal of aversive or unpleasant stimulus. occurs when a human/animal avoids something unpleasant. the outcome is positive.
what is punishment?
an unpleasant consequence of behaviour- when behaviour is followed by an aversive or unpleasant stimulus.
POSITIVE + NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT …
increases the likelihood that a behaviour would be repeated.
PUNISHMENT…
decreases the likelihood that a behaviour would be repeated.
what are the STRENGTHS of the behaviourist approach?
SCIENTIFIC CREDIBILITY:
-it is based on well controlled research
behaviour was broken down into basic stimulus-response units, allowing cause-and-effect relationships to be established.
e.g Skinner was able to clearly demonstrate how reinforcement influenced an animal’s behaviour. (Skinner box)
REAL-WORLD APPLICATION:
-applied to real life behaviour and problems
eg operant conditionings have been used in institutions such as prisons and psychiatric
wards (rewarding people with appropriate rewards)
- increases value of behaviourist approach because it has widespread application.
what are the LIMITATIONS of the behaviourist approach?
- learning behaviour is more complex than observable behaviour alone, private mental processes are important.
DETERMINISTIC:
- operant conditioning sees that all behaviour is determined by past experiences that have been conditioned. ignores free will. Skinner says free will is just an illusion.
ETHICS:
- much evidence has used animals which have not given consent
VALIDITY:
-much evidence has used animals (who are different to us)
