Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

psychology > behaviourism > Flashcards

behaviourism Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
Psychology 101 flashcards GRE® Psychology flashcards AP® Psychology flashcards
1
Q

What is behaviourism?

A

-A theoretical perspective in psychology that emphasises the role of learning and observable behaviours in understanding human and animal actions.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Who was the founder of behaviourism?

A

Watson in 1931

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are all behaviours learned through? What is behaviour?

A

-conditioned interaction with the environment
-behaviour is simply a response to environmental stimuli

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Why is it only concerned with observable stimulus-response behaviours?

A

-because they can be studied in a systematic and observable manner

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are the key assumptions?

A

-behaviour should be studied in an objective way to make psychology a science
-all behaviour is a result of learning from the environment
-behaviour is the result of stimulus response
-only observable behaviour should be studied
-little difference between the learning that takes place in humans and other animals

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is classical conditioning?

A

it refers to learning by association, and involves the conditioning of innate bodily reflexes with new stimuli

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is an unconditioned stimulus?

A

a thing that naturally causes the unconditioned response

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is an unconditioned response?

A

a natural response to the unconditioned stimulus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is the neutral stimulus?

A

a thing that doesn’t naturally produce the unconditioned response

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is the conditioned stimulus?

A

once the unconditioned stimulus and the neutral stimulus have been paired several times, the neutral stimulus becomes the conditioned stimulus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is the conditioned response?

A

the learnt response to the conditioned stimulus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Pavlov’s Experiment

A

-Ivan Pavlov showed that dogs could be classically conditioned to salivate at the sound of a bell, if that sound was repeatedly presented while they were given food
-First presented with the sound of a bell- did not salivate- neutral stimulus
-Presented with food- salivated- food was unconditioned stimulus and salvation was an unconditioned response
-Pavlov then repeatedly presented the dogs with the sound of the bell first and then the food (pairing) after a few repetitions, the dogs salivated when they heard the sound of the bell.
-The bell had become the conditioned stimulus and salivation had become the conditioned response.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are examples of classical conditioning applied to real life?

A

-taste aversion
-learned emotions
-advertising
-phobias

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is generalisation?

A

showing the conditioned response in response to things resembling the conditioned stimulus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is discrimination?

A

only showing the conditioned response in response to a very particular situation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is extinction?

A

if the conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus, the conditioned response may stop

17
Q

What is spontaneous recovery?

A

-after extinction, it doesn’t take many responses for the conditioned response to begin again

18
Q

What is operant conditioning?

A

Skinner argued for this.
The active learning process that involves humans and animals animals ‘operating’ on their environment to see the consequences.
Good consequence- more likely to repeat behaviour in the future.
Bad consequence- less likely to repeat behaviour in the future.

19
Q

What is positive reinforcement?

A

A positive outcome following a behaviour.
Increases behaviour.

20
Q

What is negative reinforcement?

A

A behaviour that leads to the removal of something negative.
Increases behaviour.
e.g. wearing sunscreen to avoid sunburn

21
Q

What is punishment?

A

A circumstance whereby a behaviour is followed by a negative consequence.
Decreases behaviour.
e.g. being grounded

22
Q

What is the difference between a positive and negative punishment?

A

A positive punishment is when something negative is administrated.
A negative punishment is the removal of something positive.

23
Q

What is a Skinner box?

A

It allows the researcher to test operant conditioning by isolating the subject from the external environment and has a behaviour indicator, such as a lever or a button.

24
Q

What happens in the Skinner box?

A

A rat is being positively reinforced (fed) for pushing a lever
This causes the lever pushing to increase
In another study… rats were electrocuted until they pressed they lever
This increased lever pressing (negative reinforcement)

25
Q

What have commentators compared the Skinner box to?

A

-They’ve drawn parallels between the Skinner box and modern advertising and game design, citing their addictive qualities and systematised rewards

26
Q

Ping-pong pigeons research

A

-pigeons were positively reinforced for ‘winning’ the game
-this increased participation

27
Q

Superstitious pigeons research

A

-pigeons were rewarded (fed) at random times
-they started doing strange things (e.g. turning in circles, flapping their wings)
-they had been doing these things by chance when they were rewarded so they thought that these actions would result in food

28
Q

What is partial reinforcement?

A

This occurs when reinforcement is only given under a particular circumstance

29
Q

What is a fixed ratio schedule?

A

-reinforcement depends on a definite number of responses
-activity slows after reinforcement and then picks back up
e.g. a rat is given a food pellet after pressing a lever 10 times

30
Q

What is a variable ratio schedule?

A

-number of responses needed for reinforcement varies
-outcome- greatest activity of all schedules
e.g. a slot machine pays out after a random number of plays

31
Q

What is a fixed interval schedule?

A

-reinforcement depends on a fixed time
-outcome- activity increases deadline nears
e.g. a child

32
Q

What are the strengths of behaviourism?

A

-objective measurement, which can be replicated and peer reviewed
-real life application e.g. behaviour therapies
-clear predictions that can be scientifically tested
-increased our understanding of phobias and attachment

33
Q

What experimental support does behaviourism have?

A
34
Q

What are the weaknesses of behaviorism?

A

-ignores mediational processes
-reductionist- ignores biology
-deterministic- largely ignores free will
-experiments- low ecological validity
-humanism- can’t compare animals to humans
-freud- people aren’t born a blank slate

psychology (9 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions