Behavioural Approach Flashcards
Two Forms Of Learning
- Classical Conditioning ( Learning via association – Pavlov and his dog)
- Operant Conditioning (Reinforcement and punishment – Skinner and his rat)
Classical Conditoning
Unconditioned Stimulus = Unconditioned Response
Neutral Stimulus + Unconditioned Stimulus = Unconditioned Response
Conditioned Stimulus = Conditioned Response
Example of Classical Conditoning
Food (UCS) = Happy Baby (UCR)
Mother (NS) + Food (UCS) = Happy Baby (UCR)
Mother (CS) = Happy Baby (CR)
Define Timing within Classical Conditioning
If the neutral stimulus cannot be used to predict the unconditional stimulus then conditioning does not take place
Define Extinction within Classical Conditioning
Pavlov discovered that unlike the unconditional response, the conditioned response does not become permanently established as a response. After the presence of the conditioned response in the absence of the unconditional response it loses the ability to produce a conditioned response.
Define Spontaneous Recovery within Classical Conditioning
After extinction if the CS and the UCS are pared together a link is made much more quickly
Define Stimulus Generation within Classical Conditioning
After an animal has been conditioned they respond to other stimuli’s that are similar to the CS
Operant Conditioning – Positive Reinforcement
Consequences which are pleasant and which bring about a repetition of behaviour Doing homework to get a praise from the teacher
Operant Conditioning - Negative Reinforcement
Behaviour is repeated in order to escape an unpleasant consequence Doing homework to avoid getting yelled at by the teacher
Operant Conditioning - Punishment
If behaviour is followed by a punishment then the likelihood of that behaviour being repeated in future decreases (The behaviour Is weakened) Doing homework to avoid getting a detention.
Skinner Box - Positive Reinforcement
The box contained a lever on the side, and as the rat moved about the box, it would accidentally knock the lever. Immediately it did so a food pellet would drop into a container next to the lever.
The rats quickly learned to go straight to the lever after a few times of being put in the box. The consequence of receiving food if they pressed the lever ensured that they would repeat the action again and again.
Skinner Box- Negative Reinforcement
The box contained a lever on the side, and as the rat moved about the box, it would accidentally knock the lever. Immediately it did so a food pellet would drop into a container next to the lever.
The rats quickly learned to go straight to the lever after a few times of being put in the box. The consequence of receiving food if they pressed the lever ensured that they would repeat the action again and again.
In fact Skinner even taught the rats to avoid the electric current by turning on a light just before the electric current came on. The rats soon learned to press the lever when the light came on because they knew that this would stop the electric current being switched on.
Evaluation: Scientific Method
Experimentally tested: the behavioural model allows clear predictions that can be tested and measured objectively (without bias), example, Classical and Operant Conditioning have and still are being scientifically tested a lab setting. Experimental studies such as Little Albert where a little boy was conditioned to fear his pet rat after it was associated with a loud bang behind him when he played with the rat, have shown how abnormal behaviour can be learnt, giving support to the model.
Evaluation: Animal Studied
The widespread use of animals is a source of criticism. Whilst conditioning can be observed in most species, there are genetic influences on what different species can and cannot learn which reflect their different evolutionary histories (e.g. rats can be conditioned to respond to tastes but not smells). This means that generalizations between species must be made with more caution than many behaviourists apply.
Evaluation: Impact On Society
Nonetheless, behaviourism has supplied practical solutions to many human problems. Operant conditioning has demonstrated an effective way of modifying behaviour amongst people who may be difficult to teach in other ways (e.g. autistic children) and many people with problems like phobia have benefitted significantly from behaviour therapies including systematic desensitization.
