Behaviourism Flashcards
What is behaviourism
It is primarily concerned with observable behaviour
What is behaviourism also know as
Social learning theory
What is a stimulus
anything internal or external that brings about a response
What is a response
any reaction in the presence of the stimulus
What is reinforcement
this is process by which a response is strengthen
What are the three main assumptions of behaviourism
Nearly all behaviour is learnt
Animals and humans learn in the same way
The mind is irrelevant
What are the research methods for the main three main assumptions of behaviourism
- Nearly all behaviour is learnt
Understanding the main principals of learning
- Animals and humans learn in the same way
Animals can be used as research methods as what is true for them is probably also true for us
- the mind is irrelevant
Behaviourist only observe quantifiable behaviour - which is behaviours which can be measured through time or repetitions
What is study based around classical conditioning and who conducted it
This is the experiment conducted by Pavlov, When Pavlov gave his dog food he would also ring a bell.
After repeating this procedure several times pavlov then tried ringing the bell without giving the dogs any food and found the bell alone caused salvation.
What is a unconditioned stimulus and response in relation to Pavlovs dogs
This is an unlearned and automatic response - reflex. When dogs see food they salivate. The food is the unconditioned stimulus and the salivation is unconditioned response.
What is a conditioned stimulus and conditioned response in relation to Pavlovs dogs
When the dog heard the bell and in response would salivate. This is because the bell had become conditioned stimulus and the salivation had become a conditioned response.
What are the five principles of classical conditioning and what do they entail
Generalisation - when stimuli similar to the CS produce the CR
Discrimination - when stimuli similar to the original CS DONT produce the CR
Extinction - when the CR isn’t produced as a result of the CS. This occurs as a result of overuse of the UCS with no CS
Spontaneous recovery - when a previously extinct CR is produced in response to the CS. This happens when the CS is presented agai after a period of time where it is not presented
Higher order conditioning - when a new CS produces the CR because the animal associates it with the original CS. This can be achieved by consistently presenting the new CS before the original CS
What is operant conditioning
This is how animals can learn from the consequences of their own actions
What is positive reinforcement
This is when something desirable is obtained in response to doing something
What is negative reinforcement
This is something undesirable is removed when something happens
What was the methods of skinners study
Skinner created a Skinner box with a floor which gave shocks, speakers and a food dispenser which released food when a lever was pressed. A hungry was then pressed in the box and time taken for the rat learn that pressing the lever realised food was recorded.
What where the results of skinners study
The rat would run around until it triggered the lever and food was released. The more the rat was put in the box the quicker they got a learning where the lever was.
What was the conclusion of skinners study
Rats can learn behaviour through operant conditioning
What is some evaluation of skinners study
Experiment was very influential in behavioural psychology. However, his experiment did use animals, which means results might not be generalisable to humans. His sample size was also small, reducing the reliability of his results.
How did I skinner present negative reinforcement
He carried out a variation of the Skinner box where the rat could press the lever when the light came on to avoid electrocutions
What are some weakness of conditioning in behaviourism
- Lots evidence suggests both animals and humans can learn by conditioning but is cannot explain all human behaviours as we also learn from social learning.
- Most Research has involved animals, meaning generalisation to humans need to be made
- different species have different capacities for learning by conditioning
- genetics seem to influence and limit what differences species can learn by conditioning
- Lots of the expiration includes animals which is unethical
What was the method used in watson and rayner study
The participant was an 11 month old boy called little Albert. He showed no fear of white fluffy objects such as rabbits and rats. Researchers try to condition this response into him by placing a rabbit in front of him and when he reached out for it they would strike a metal bar behind his head. This was repeated twice then five times a weak later.
What where the results of Watson and rayner
When little Albert was shown a rat he would start to cry. This also extended to all white fluffy objects such as santas beard
What was the conclusion Watson and rayner
A fear response to white fluffy objects had been conditioned into little Albert showing that abnormal behaviour can be learned
What was some positive evaluation of Watson and rayner
The results are in favour of Pavlov’s idea of classical conditioning
What is social learning theory
A way of explaining behaviour that included both direct and indirect reinforcement. It suggests we can learn from reinforcement but also role models
How to do we learn through modelling
Modelling involves learning through the observation of other people which may lead to our imitation of the
What is vicarious reinforcement
Seeing others being rewarded for a behaviour influences someone in wether they chose to imitate the behaviour
What are the four conditions for social learning
Attention - the extent to which we notice certain behaviours
Retention - the individual remembers what they have observed
Motor reproduction - The individual replicates the behaviour shown by the model
Motivation - The individual seeks to demonstrate the behaviour that they have observed
What was the method of Bendura’s study
36 girls and 36 boys with mean age of 52 months. Each child was matched on aggressive behaviour ranking at their nursery.
Condition 1 - children observed aggressive adult models playing with a bobo doll hitting it with a mallet
Condition 2 - Children observed non aggressive models playing with other toys and ignoring the bobo doll
Condition 3 - children had no exposure to the models for 20 minutes in a room containing aggressive toys and non aggressive toys
What was the result of Bandura’s study
Children exposed to aggressive models imitate a lot of their aggressive behaviour.
Children in the non aggressive and control conditions showed barely any aggressive behaviour
Aggressive behaviour was slightly higher in control group than non aggressive
What was the conclusion of Bandura’s study
Aggressive behaviour is learned though imitation of others behaving aggressively
What is some positive evaluation of Bandura
This provides evidence for social learning theory. There was strict control of the variables, so it reliable and replicated.
Bandura shows reinforcement is not needed for learning
What are some negative evaluations for Bandura’s study
Study had low egolocal validity
Small sample so hard to generalise
It is difficult to conclude observational learning has taken place as it can occur far after it is witnessed
Bob dolls are supposed to be for aggressive play.
The children where shown to play with the doll which may just show obedience
What is some negative evaluations for SLT
The theory igornes reinforcement. Depending on the reinforcement a model receives the may have an effect
How is the process of learning applicable to human development
Having its needs dealt with and gaining comfort naturally makes a baby’s happy. This isn’t leant it is an inborn reflex
What is some negative evaluation of Watson and rayner
The experiment was unethical and could not be repeated today
Positive evaluation of strengths of the behaviouralist approach
Behaviourism is very scientific with the theories being very testable
The tests performed are very replicable e
Have useful real world effects such as understanding phobias and helping with child rearing
It holds strong arguments for the nature side of the nature nurture
Positive evaluation of operant conditioning in real life application
Token economy systems in prisons and psychiatric hospitals
Appropriate behaviour is rewarded which tokens that can be exchanged for privileges
Negative evaluation for mechanistic view of behaviour for behaviourism
Animals are seen are seen as passive and machine like responder to their environment with little or no conscious insight into their behaviour
SLT and cognitive approach empahised the important of mental events at learning
Applies less to humans than animals
Negative evaluation of environment determinism for behaviourism
All behaviours are determined by past experiences that have been conditioned
Skinner says free will is an illusion
Past history determines the outcom when something happens
Positive evaluation of real world SLT
Probabliltiy of someone engaging in criminal activity increases when they are exposed to models who commit crime and identify with them
Negative evaluation for behaviourism and of the importance of cognitive factors in learning
- niether classical or operant conditioning can offer an adequate account of leaning on their own
- humans and many animals store information about the behaviour of them and use this to make judgments
- more comprehensive explanation of human learning by recognising the role of meditational processes
Negative evaluation for social learning theory of underestimating the influence of biological factors
- boys where more aggressive in the bobo doll expirment than girls. Perhaps as a result of higher testosterone.
- a group of 35 female to male and 15 male to female people completed a survey before and after receiving hormone treatment. Female to male increased aggression and decreased in Male to female.
Positive evaluation for social learning theory of cultural difference in behaviour
- study found in two cultures one where aggression is not admired or reinforced by adults and one where the amount of aggression shown decides status.
How can video nasties play a role in social learning theory
Psychologists said that video nasties are more likley to frighten children than to make aggressive towards others. They argue social deprivation, child abuse and early exposure to violence at home leads to violent personality.
However crime such as the Jamie burger incident and columbine shootings may have been influenced from media such as clock work orange and Marilyn Manson.
