Behavioural approach Flashcards
Behavioural approach
Believes that all behaviour is learnt and that we are born as a blank slate. Only concerned with observable behaviour that can be measured (not internal processes). Controlled lab studies used to remove bias and maintain objectivity. Animals used as experimental subjects because processes governing learning are the same in all species.
Classical conditioning
This is a behaviourist theory which says that humans and animals learn new behaviours by the process of association
Association
When two stimuli are paired together at the same time, they become linked
Stimulus
Something in the environment that may or may not result in a response
Response
A reaction to a stimuli
Generalisation
When a similar stimulus to the learnt stimulus elicits the same response (e.g. bitten by an Alsatian now afraid of all dogs).
Extinction
When a conditioned pairing decays over time. Conditioned stimuli aren’t permanent unless they are occasionally paired with the UCS.
Neutral stimulus (NS)
something in the environment that elicits no innate response, e.g. ring of a bell
Unconditioned stimulus (UCS)
Something in the environment that elicits a response that does not need to be learnt, e.g. food
Unconditioned response (UCR)
An innate reaction to an unconditioned stimulus, e.g. salivation when encountering food
Conditioned stimulus (CS)
Something in the environment that elicits a response that needs to be learnt
Conditioned response (CR)
Reaction to a conditioned stimulus
Operant conditioning
A form of learning in which behaviour is shaped and maintained by its consequences. Possible consequences of behaviour include positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement and punishment.
Positive reinforcement
A pleasant consequence to a behaviour that increases the likelihood of repeating that behaviour
Negative reinforcement
Any behaviour that leads to an escape from an unpleasant situation will increase the likelihood of repeating that behaviour.
