Approaches- The Behaviourist Approach Flashcards
1
Q
What are the assumptions of the behaviourist approach?
A
- We are born a blank slate and all behaviour is learnt by interactions and experiences in our environment and there is no biological influence on our behaviour
- It rejects introspection, only observable behaviour is scientifically measurable
- The basic process of learning is the same for all species and it is therefore valid to study how animals learn and apply it to humans.
2
Q
Explain theory 1 - Classical conditioning
A
- Classical conditioning is learning by association
- Learning occurs when 2 stimuli are repeatedly paired together (a neutral and unconditioned stimulus)
- A neutral stimulus doesn’t cause a response
- A conditioned stimulus causes a natural response which becomes the unconditioned response
- After repeated pairings, the neutral stimulus now called the conditioned stimulus will cause the conditioned response.
3
Q
What did Pavlov do?
A
- He developed classical conditioning
- He revealed that dogs could be conditioned to salivate to the sound of a bell if the bell was rang each time they were fed
- Pavlov was able to show how a neutral stimulus (the bell) could create a conditioned response through association.
- Food= US
- Salivation= UCR
- Bell= NS (paired with UCS) creates salivation+ UCR
- Bell becomes= CS
- Salivation becomes= CR
4
Q
What are Pavlov’s other findings?
A
- Association only occurs if the uncondtioned stimulus and neutral stimulus are presented at the same time.
- Stimulus generalisation - Once an animal has been conditioned, they’d also respond to other stimuli similar to the original conditioned stimulus
- If the conditioned stimulus is repeatedly intoduced without the neutral stimulus, the conditioned response dissapears and the behaviour learnt goes away because association has stopped.
5
Q
Explain theory 2 - Operant Conditioning
A
- Operant conditioning - learning can occur through the consequences of behaviour
* Positive reinforcement - If a reward is given for doing something, that behaviour is likely to be repeated e.g. getting a present for doing well in an exam - Punishment - If punishment occurs after behaviour, it reduces the chance that the behaviour will be repeated e.g. stopping doing an activity you enjoy after doing badly in an exam
- Negative reinforcement - If something unpleasant stops when performing desired behaviour, the behaviour is more likely to be repeated e.g. you don’t have to wash up that night because you’ve done well in an exam
- Shaping - Route to target behaviour. Behaviours leading to the target behaviour are rewarded e.g. to achieve well in an exam, revision comes first and doing revision would be rewarded
6
Q
Explain the Skinner box
A
- Skinner conducted experiments with rats in specially designed cages - skinner boxes
- A hungry rat would go in the box and inside was a lever and when it was pressed, it would deliver a food pellet
- The rat learned that pressing the lever would result in an award (food), Skinner observed that due to the consequence of the rats action of pressing the lever, it continued to display the behaviour - it had been positively reinforced
- Skinner changed the lever so that when it was pressed, the rat was given an electric shock. The rat quickly learnt to stop pressing the lever - the electric shock acted as a punishment
- Skinner set up the box so that the floor was electrified an the lever turned off the current. While the rat stood on it, it got bounced around and accidentally pressed the lever. It learnt that the lever stopped it getting electicuted so it kept pressing the lever - negative reinforcement
7
Q
Description of Behaviourist research
A
- In controlled lab experiments, they use animals
- Behaviourists accept Darwin’s theory of evolution which states humans have involved from lower animals so therefore, basic processes of learning are the same for all species
- Animals replace humans as experimental participants
- They study rats, cats, pigeons and dogs to investigate how learning occurs
