APPROACHES - The Behaviourist Approach - Classical Conditioning and Pavlov's Research

Question 1

Classical conditioning and Pavlov’s research AO1

Answer 1

• The behavioural approach is a way of explaining behaviour in terms of what is observed in terms of learning.
• It is based on a plethora of assumptions:
• Everyone is born as a blank slate
• All behaviour is learnt from the environment
• Only observable behaviours can be measured and investigated
• Animal research may be used as a basis for understanding human behaviour
• Repeated behaviours become internalised and automatic
• Classical conditioning is learning by association; involves building up an association between two different stimuli so that learning takes place.
• Pavlov study for classical conditioning:
• Food (unconditioned stimulus) produces the unconditioned response of the dog salivating
• A bell (neutral stimulus) is rung, and the dog does not salivate (no conditioned response)
• Food (unconditioned stimulus) is repeatedly paired with the neutral stimulus (bell ringing) to produce salivation (unconditioned response). Learning is taking place
• Now when the bell (conditioned stimulus) is presented alone, the dog will begin to salivate (conditioned response)
• Therefore learning has taken place via classical conditioning.
• Some principles of classical conditioning in relation to Pavlov’s research is:
• Generalisation: Stimuli SIMILAR to the original conditioned stimuli WILL cause the conditioned response
• Discrimination: Stimuli SIMILAR to the original conditioned stimuli WILL NOT cause the conditioned response
• Extinction: Conditioned response is no longer produced by the conditioned stimuli

Question 2

What is the behavioural approach

Answer 2

a way of explaining behaviour in terms of what is observed in terms of learning.

Question 3

What are the assumptions of the behavioural approach

Answer 3

• Everyone is born as a blank slate
• All behaviour is learnt from the environment
• Only observable behaviours can be measured and investigated
• Animal research may be used as a basis for understanding human behaviour
• Repeated behaviours become internalised and automatic

Question 4

What is classical conditioning

Answer 4

learning by association; involves building up an association between two different stimuli so that learning takes place

Question 5

Outline the Pavlov study for classical conditioning

Answer 5

• Food (unconditioned stimulus) produces the unconditioned response of the dog salivating
• A bell (neutral stimulus) is rung, and the dog does not salivate (no conditioned response)
• Food (unconditioned stimulus) is repeatedly paired with the neutral stimulus (bell ringing) to produce salivation (unconditioned response). Learning is taking place
• Now when the bell (conditioned stimulus) is presented alone, the dog will begin to salivate (conditioned response)
• Therefore learning has taken place via classical conditioning

Question 6

What are the principles of classical conditioning in relation to Pavlov’s research

Answer 6

• Food (unconditioned stimulus) produces the unconditioned response of the dog salivating
• A bell (neutral stimulus) is rung, and the dog does not salivate (no conditioned response)
• Food (unconditioned stimulus) is repeatedly paired with the neutral stimulus (bell ringing) to produce salivation (unconditioned response). Learning is taking place
• Now when the bell (conditioned stimulus) is presented alone, the dog will begin to salivate (conditioned response)
• Therefore learning has taken place via classical conditioning

Question 7

Classical conditioning and Pavlov’s research AO3

Answer 7

• Research evidence
• Evidence to support the idea of classical conditioning being able to explain the development of learning and phobias
• Pavlov dog study and Watson & Rayner Little Albert study
• But the findings from Little Albert study may be different to different settings as it was conducted in a lab setting
• Therefore findings of this study might be quite weak and might lack ecological validity
• Learning in children
• Classical conditioning can explain how children and animals learn things
• But may not be as strong in explaining how adults learn new behaviours
• Thus it is limited to only explaining learning in children and animals
• Treatment of psychological disorders
• Pavlov’s research has helped apply classical conditioning to treatments of psychological disorders
• Classical conditioning has helped form treatments such as flooding and systematic desensitisation against phobias
• These are based on the components of classical conditioning and association
• Laboratory testing
• The behavioural model can be easily tested and measured in a scientific way via observation in a lab
• The model relies on observing behaviour that can be directly seen and measured in a highly controlled setting
• This helps aid objectivity and replication

Question 8

Classical conditioning and Pavlov’s research AO3 - research evidence

Answer 8

• Evidence to support the idea of classical conditioning being able to explain the development of learning and phobias
• Pavlov dog study and Watson & Rayner Little Albert study
• But the findings from Little Albert study may be different to different settings as it was conducted in a lab setting

Question 9

Classical conditioning and Pavlov’s research AO3 - learning in children

Answer 9

• Classical conditioning can explain how children and animals learn things
• But may not be as strong in explaining how adults learn new behaviours
• Thus it is limited to only explaining learning in children and animals

Question 10

Classical conditioning and Pavlov’s research AO3 - treatment of psychological disorders

Answer 10

• Pavlov’s research has helped apply classical conditioning to treatments of psychological disorders
• Classical conditioning has helped form treatments such as flooding and systematic desensitisation against phobias
• These are based on the components of classical conditioning and association

Question 11

Classical conditioning and Pavlov’s research AO3 - laboratory testing

Answer 11

• The behavioural model can be easily tested and measured in a scientific way via observation in a lab
• The model relies on observing behaviour that can be directly seen and measured in a highly controlled setting
• This helps aid objectivity and replication