Approaches - The behaviourist approach Flashcards
What are the main points of the behaviourist approach?
Classical and operant conditioning
What is the behaviourist approach?
A way of explaining behaviour in terms of what is observable and in terms of learning
What did John B Watson reject?
Instrospection as it involves too many concepts that were vague and difficult to measure
What do behaviourists try to maintain?
More control and objectivity within their research and relied on lab studies as the best way to achieve this
What do behaviourists believe?
Behaviour is learned
What do behaviourists describe a baby mind to be?
A blank slate which is written from experience
Who invented classical conditioning?
Pavlov
What is classical conditioning?
Learning by association
What is the sequence of stimuli?
Unconditioned stimulus -> unconditioned response
Neutral stimulus -> unconditioned stimulus
(continous)
Conditioned stimulus -> conditioned response
Who invented operant conditioning?
B.F Skinner
What did B.F skinner suggest?
That learning is an active process whereby humans and animals operate on the environment
What is behaviour shaped by?
It’s consequences
What is positive reinforcement?
Receiving a reward when a certain behaviour is performed
What is negative reinforcement?
Occurs when an animal or human avoids something unpleasant
What is punishment?
An unpleasant consequence of behaviour
What does positive and negative reinforcement increase?
The likelihood of repeating the behaviour
What does punishment decrease?
The likelihood of repeating the behaviour
What is one strength of the behaviourist approach?
Well controlled research
What is the evaluation of the behaviourist approach having well controlled research?
P: well controlled research
E: Measurement of observable behaviour
E: extraneous variables removed
E: reinforcement influences an animal’s behaviour
L: behaviourists experiments have scientific credibility
What is another strength of the behaviourist approach?
Real world application
What is the evaluation of the behaviourist approach having real world application?
P: applied to real life behaviours and problems
E: token economy systems
E: Work by awarding appropiate behaviour with tokens in exchange for privileges
L: Has widespread application
What is one limitation of the behaviourist approach?
Environmental determinism
What is the evaluation of the behaviourist approach having environmental determinism?
P: Sees all behaviour as conditioning by past conditioning experiences
E: Our past conditioning history determines our outcome
E: ignores free will’s impact on behaviour
L: Ignores the influence of conscious decision making processes on behaviour
