Behavioural Approach Flashcards
What are the key assumptions in the behavioural approach?
All behaviour is acquired and maintained through classical and operant conditioning
It only focuses on behaviour which can be objectively measured and observed
-as seen in Skinner’s box
Laws of learning can be applied to humans and animals in the same way (hence why many studies are used)
What is classical conditioning?
Before conditioning, the UCS produces the UCR
During conditioning, the NS is repeatedly paired with the UCS, and when shown together they produce the UCR
After conditioning, the association has been made and the NS becomes the CS. The Conditioned Stimulus now produces the Conditioned Response on its own
Outline Pavlov’s study
Pavlov’s dogs
-UCS (food) initially produced the UCR (salivation)
-UCS (food) repeatedly paired with the NS (bell), producing the UCR (salivation)
-The association was made between the NS (food) and the UCS
-Food became the CS, and produced the CR of salivation on its own
What is extinction?
When the CS isn’t paired with the UCS so much to the point where is becomes extinct. There is no longer an association between the two
What is Spontaneous Recovery?
When the individual carries out the CR some time after extinction has occurred
What is Stimulus Generalisation?
Slight changes in the CS (such as a different type of bell) still produce the same CR
What is operant conditioning?
Behaviour is acquired and maintained through consequences
Reinforcement increases the likelihood of the observed behaviour being repeated
-Positive reinforcement: behaviour is done to receive a reward (e.g homework is done to receive praise from a teacher)
-Negative reinforcement: behaviour is done to avoid a negative consequence (e.g homework is done to avoid getting a detention)
Punishment decreases the likelihood of a behaviour being repeated
Outline Skinner’s research
Skinner’s Rats / box
Positive Reinforcement:
- When rats pressed down on a lever they received food (reward)
- They learned to increase this behaviour to increase rewards
Negative Reinforcement:
- Rat learned to press down on the lever to avoid the unpleasant electric shock (consequence)
- They learned to repeat this behaviour to continue to avoid the shock
AO3 +
Research support - Little Albert
Watson and Rayner
Little Albert acquired a phobia of white rats through classical conditioning
-Every time a white rat appeared (NS) a loud bang was sounded (UCS), producing the response of fear
-The white rat (NS) then became associated with the loud bang (UCS) and so the white rat became the CS
-After conditioning, whenever Little Albert saw a white rat he became scared and started crying (CR)
This study also supports extinction as when the loud bang was not heard when a white rat appeared for a long enough time the rat no longer produced the CR
AO3 +
Skinner’s work was scientific and experimental
Experimental, lab experiment
-Controlled conditions
-Allowed Skinner to establish a causal relationship between variables
IV- Manipulated consequences
DV- Rats behaviour
This allowed Skinner to establish a cause and effect relationship between consequences of a behaviour and how much the behaviour therefore occurred
HIGH INTERNAL VALIDITY
AO3 +
Real-Life application
Token Economies
Used a way of dealing with offending behaviour in prisons
-Inmates who carry out socially desirable behaviour are given TOKENS
-The token is the secondary reinforcer
-Tokens can be traded for rewards (e.g watching a movie)
-The reward is the primary reinforcer
Therefore behaviourism has had a positive real-world application
AO3 -
Unethical
Skinner’s box caused harm to the rats
-Breaches ‘protection from harm’ ethical guideline
Watson and Rayner also breached ethical guidelines by not giving him an opportunity to withdraw
AO3 -
Reliance on animal studies
Can’t tell us much about human behaviour
-humans have free-will and are not solely determined by positive or negative reinforcement
However, Skinner counted this, sticking by his claim that humans have no free will
