Behaviourism Flashcards
What are the 3 assumptions of the Behaviourist approach?
- Our behaviour is learnt through experiences
- The mind is not important for understanding behaviour, instead we focus on behaviour that is observable
- Humans and animals learn in the same way
Define Classical Conditioning
Learning through association
Describe the process of classical conditioning using Pavlov’s experiment
Before conditioning, the dog salivated at the sight of food, this was theunconditioned stimulus, causing the unconditioned response. Also before conditioning, the dog had no response to the sound of a bell, this was the neutral stimulus. During conditioning, Pavlov put the bell and food together, causing salivation, still causing an unconditioned response. After conditioning, the bell alone caused the dog to salivate, which was the conditioned stimulus causing the conditioned response
How does the case study of Little Albert show classical conditioning?
Before conditioning, Albert had no response to a white rat, but had a fear of lous noises. During conditioning, they put the rat and noise together, which caused fear and crying. After conditioning, the white rat alone caused fear and crying
What is operant conditioning?
Learning through reinforcement
Define reinforcement
Increasing a behaviour
What is positive reinforcement?
A rewarsis given when a certain behaviour is performed
What is negative reinforcement?
Occurs when an individual increases behaviour due to avoidance of the negative consequences
What is punishment?
An unpleasant consequence that reduces the likelihood of the preceeded behaviour occuring again
What is the method of Skinner’s study?
- Skinner developed a special cage to investigate operant conditioning
- The rat moves around the cage, and when he accidentally presses the lever, a food pellet falls into the cage
- In no time at all the hungry rats begin pressing the lever in order to obtain food
- If the food pellet stops, the rat presses the lever a few more times and then abandons it
What were the results of Skinner’s experiment? Which type of reinforcement did this support and why?
The rats worked out they get rewarded for their behaviour, so continued to do it
Positive reinforcement as they got rewarded
How did Skinner then extend his research? How did this show evidence for another type of reinforcement?
He placed the rat into a box with electrical current, if the rat hit the lever, the current would stop
This shows negative reinforcement as he was avoiding the consuquence of the painful electric current
What is a limitation of using animals in research for the behaviourist approach?
Humans are far more complex than animal, as we have larger brains, so therefore a more complex thought process
How does the Little Albert study overcome a criticism of the behaviourist approach that could be used to criticise Pavlov’s research?
It showed how classical conditioning can be used to create an emotional response or a phobia in a person, whereas Pavlov just proved the research on an animal
What does determinist approach mean?
Behaviour has a cause and is therefore predictable
