Approaches- The Behaviourist Approach Flashcards
What is the primary focus of the behaviourist approach?
The behaviourist approach focuses on studying observable and measurable behaviour, avoiding the investigation of mental processes.
Why did early behaviourists like John B. Watson reject introspection?
Watson rejected introspection because it involved vague and difficult-to-measure concepts, lacking the control and objectivity needed for scientific research.
What methods did behaviourists prefer for their research?
Behaviourists relied on lab experiments to maintain control and objectivity, ensuring their research was scientific and replicable.
How did behaviourists view the relationship between humans and animals in research?
Following Darwin, behaviourists argued that the basic processes governing learning are the same across species, allowing animals to replace humans as experimental subjects.
What are the two main forms of learning identified by behaviourists?
The two main forms of learning are classical conditioning and operant conditioning.
What is classical conditioning, and who demonstrated it?
Classical conditioning is learning through association, first demonstrated by Ivan Pavlov, who showed that dogs could be conditioned to salivate to the sound of a bell when it was paired with food.
What is operant conditioning, and who researched it?
Operant conditioning, researched by B.F. Skinner, is learning through consequences, where behaviour is shaped by reinforcement or punishment.
What are the three types of consequences in operant conditioning?
The three types are positive reinforcement (receiving a reward), negative reinforcement (avoiding something unpleasant), and punishment (an unpleasant consequence).
How does positive reinforcement work?
Positive reinforcement increases the likelihood of a behaviour being repeated by providing a reward, such as praise for answering a question correctly.
How does negative reinforcement work?
Negative reinforcement increases the likelihood of a behaviour by removing or avoiding an unpleasant stimulus, such as handing in an essay to avoid being told off.
What is punishment in operant conditioning?
Punishment decreases the likelihood of a behaviour by introducing an unpleasant consequence, such as being shouted at for talking during a lesson.
What is the Skinner Box?
The Skinner Box is a controlled environment where animals like rats or pigeons are conditioned to perform behaviours (e.g., pressing a lever) to receive rewards (e.g., food) or avoid punishments (e.g., electric shocks).
What is a variable ratio schedule, and why is it effective?
A variable ratio schedule provides reinforcement after an unpredictable number of responses, making the behaviour highly resistant to extinction. This is seen in gambling addiction.
What is the mechanistic view of behaviour in behaviourism?
Behaviourists view animals and humans as passive, machine-like responders to the environment, with little conscious insight into their behaviour.
How does behaviourism contrast with other approaches like social learning theory?
Unlike behaviourism, social learning theory and the cognitive approach emphasize the role of mental processes and active participation in learning.
What is environmental determinism in behaviourism?
Behaviourists believe all behaviour is determined by past conditioning experiences, with no role for free will, which Skinner considered an illusion.
What are the ethical concerns with animal experiments in behaviourism?
Critics question the ethics of exposing animals to stressful or aversive conditions in experiments like the Skinner Box, despite the scientific insights gained.
What is the scientific credibility of behaviourism?
Behaviourism brought scientific rigor to psychology by focusing on observable behaviour, controlled experiments, and replicable methods, enhancing psychology’s credibility as a science.
How are behaviourist principles applied in real-world settings?
Operant conditioning is used in token economy systems in prisons and psychiatric hospitals, rewarding appropriate behaviour with tokens exchangeable for privileges.
How does behaviourism explain gambling addiction?
Gambling addiction is explained by variable ratio schedules, where unpredictable rewards make the behaviour highly resistant to extinction.
What is the behaviourist perspective on free will?
Behaviourists, like Skinner, argue that free will is an illusion, and all behaviour is determined by past conditioning experiences.
What does David Wong (2008) argue about video game addiction?
David Wong uses Skinnerian principles to explain addiction to video games, comparing the video game environment to a Skinner Box that provides reinforcement and rewards based on specific behaviors.
How does Wong compare video games to the Skinner Box?
Wong argues that video games create reinforcement contingencies, where rewards (e.g., killing zombies, completing levels) are dependent on certain behaviors, similar to how a rat in a Skinner Box receives food pellets for pressing a lever.
What is the analogy between video games and the Skinner Box?
The use of a joystick or controller in video games is analogous to the rat pressing a lever in the Skinner Box, with both behaviors being reinforced by rewards.
How does Wong explain the addictive nature of early video games like Pac-Man?
Wong explains that the addictive nature of games like Pac-Man comes from the central character navigating the screen and “munching” on food pellets, which mirrors the reinforcement mechanisms in the Skinner Box.
