Behavioural Approach

Question 1

When was the approach devised?

Answer 1

1913

Question 2

What is the definition of the behavioural approach?

Answer 2

Focuses on behaviour that can be observed and measured via experimentation as part of learning and nurture

Question 3

Who are the key figures within the approach?

Answer 3

Watson
Pavlov
Skinner

Question 4

What is behaviour?

Answer 4

A product of learning, environment and experience

Question 5

What do behaviourists state?

Answer 5

Individuals are born a tabula rasa (blank slate) meaning we acquire our knowledge from upbringing and experience via the environment

Question 6

What forms are within the approach?

Answer 6

1. Classical conditioning
2. Operant conditioning

Question 7

What is classical conditioning?

Answer 7

Learning via association
Two stimuli are linked together to produce a new learned response in a person or animal

Question 8

Who was classical conditioning proposed by?

Answer 8

Watson

Question 9

What are the 3 stages of classical conditioning?

Answer 9

1. Before conditioning
2. During conditioning
3. After conditioning

• Each stage sees stimuli paired together so that a new process of learning will occur
  -This means that behaviour is learnt and means behaviour can be relevant should it need to be

Question 10

What is an UCS?

Answer 10

A stimulus that provokes an Unconditioned Response (UCR)

Question 11

Are the UCS and UCR conditioned?

Answer 11

The UCS and UCR are unconditioned because no learning takes place, we are not conditioned to respond (UCR) to a UCS. The response is natural.

Question 12

Pavlovs experiment:

Answer 12

UCS (Food) is paired with the NS (bell)
UCS (Food) + NS (Bell) = UCR (Salvation)
NS (Bell) = CR (Salvation)
In the case of Pavlov, the dogs have learned to salivate at the sound and sight of the bell and have allowed classical conditioning to occur

Question 13

What is operant conditioning?

Answer 13

A type of learning in which a new voluntary behaviour is associated with a consequence

Question 14

Who was operant conditioning proposed by?

Answer 14

Skinner (1930s)

Question 15

What is the ABC model in the behavioural approach?

Answer 15

Antecedent - what led to behaviour
Behaviour - the behaviour
Consequence - what happened because of th behaviour

Question 16

What is learning in operant conditioing?

Answer 16

Learning is an active process whereby humans and animals operate in their environment via trial and error
As humans and animals operate via their environment this means there are consequences for their behaviour

Question 17

What are the three main types of consequence?

Answer 17

Positive reinforcement
Negative reinforcementt
Punishment

Question 18

What is positive reinforcement?

Answer 18

Behaviour is rewarded with something that is wanted or desired
The aim is to increase the likelihood of it occurring again by learning the behaviour is good

Question 19

What is negative reinforcement?

Answer 19

Avoiding or removing something unpleasant when a behaviour is performed
Undesirable behaviour is given a possible consequence, the aim is to decrease the likelihood of it occurring again i.e., a warning

Question 20

What is punishment?

Answer 20

The consequence (warning) Is given as behaviour wasn’t changed/moderated

Question 21

What are the positives of the Behaviour Approach?

Answer 21

+ Explains behaviour from a nurture viewpoint via learning – makes sense because humans and animals do learn via their environment
+ RLA – in the real world, humans and animals will learn via association and consequence via trial and error
+ Research evidence of C/C and O/C occurring in humans and animals
+ Uses elements of science so that cause and effect can be established

Question 22

What are the negatives of the behavioural Approach?

Answer 22

Deterministic – states that all behaviour will occur due to learning, ignores free and choice
Can’t be used universally to explain all behaviour
Doesn’t consider individual differences
Too rooted in animal research – can’t be applied to humans
Approach can be criticised because of ethical issues associated with supporting research which devalues the approach when examining behaviour
Only focuses on nurture