BEHAVIOURISM Flashcards
Two assumptions of the behaviourist approach?
-Humans are born as a blank slate
-all behaviour is learnt from environment and can be unlearnt
What are the two main theories behaviourists proposed?
classical and operant conditioning
explain classical conditioning in terms of stimulus and response
NS plus UCS =UCR
what will happen if the pairing is repeated?
the individual will learn to associate the NS with the UCS
if pairing is repeated, what will the NS become?
becomes CS which created the CR
what was the UCS in pavlovs study?
food
What is the UCR in pavlova study?
salivation
what was the NS?
the bell
What is the second feature of behaviourism?
Operant conditioning
What was the positive reinforcement in Skinners study?
when the rat pulled the lever, the rat was rewarded with food
What was the negative reinforcement in Skinner’s study?
There was an electrical current and the lever would stop the current.
What is a strength of the behaviourist approach?
P-prac apps
E-behaviour due to classical conditioning lead to SD
E-helps unlearn the phobia
L-applied psychology
What can the behaviourist approach be criticised for?
P-environmental reductionism
E-reduced complex human behaviour down to simple basic units
E-neglects the holistic approach- social and cultural context
L-may lack validity as behaviour is not in context
What is another strength of the behaviourist approach?
P-scientific methods such as lab experiments
E-Pavlov used a lab experiment alongside objective and empirical techniques
E-the saliva of the dogs produced in conditioning
L-increased internal validity and improving psychology’s scientific status
