behaviourism

Question 1

What are the assumptions of the behaviourist approach?

Answer 1

The behaviourist approach assumes that all behaviours are learned through interaction with the environment focusing on observable behaviours rather than internal mental processes.

Question 2

What is classical conditioning?

Answer 2

Classical conditioning is a learning process where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with an unconditioned stimulus to produce a conditioned response.

Question 3

Who conducted research on classical conditioning?

Answer 3

Ivan Pavlov conducted research on classical conditioning.

Question 4

What was Pavlov’s experiment on classical conditioning?

Answer 4

Pavlov demonstrated classical conditioning by pairing a neutral stimulus (a bell) with an unconditioned stimulus (food) causing dogs to salivate at the sound of the bell alone.

Question 5

What is operant conditioning?

Answer 5

Operant conditioning is a type of learning where behaviour is influenced by consequences such as rewards and punishments.

Question 6

Who is associated with research on operant conditioning?

Answer 6

B.F. Skinner is associated with research on operant conditioning.

Question 7

What is positive reinforcement in operant conditioning?

Answer 7

Positive reinforcement involves giving a reward to increase the likelihood of a behaviour being repeated.

Question 8

What is negative reinforcement in operant conditioning?

Answer 8

Negative reinforcement involves removing an unpleasant stimulus to increase the likelihood of a behaviour being repeated.

Question 9

What is punishment in operant conditioning?

Answer 9

Punishment is a consequence that decreases the likelihood of a behaviour being repeated.

Question 10

What was Skinner’s research on operant conditioning?

Answer 10

Skinner used the ‘Skinner box’ to study how rewards (food) and punishments influenced animal behaviour demonstrating principles of operant conditioning.

Question 11

What are examples of positive reinforcement?

Answer 11

Examples include giving a child a treat for completing homework or praising an employee for good performance.

Question 12

What are examples of negative reinforcement?

Answer 12

Examples include turning off a loud alarm when a button is pressed or taking painkillers to relieve a headache.

Question 13

What is a primary reinforcer?

Answer 13

A primary reinforcer satisfies a basic biological need such as food water or shelter.

Question 14

What is a secondary reinforcer?

Answer 14

A secondary reinforcer is associated with a primary reinforcer such as money which can be used to obtain food or shelter.

Question 15

What is extinction in operant conditioning?

Answer 15

Extinction occurs when a behaviour that was previously reinforced is no longer rewarded leading to a decrease in that behaviour over time.

Question 16

What is spontaneous recovery in classical conditioning?

Answer 16

Spontaneous recovery is the reappearance of a previously extinguished conditioned response after a rest period.

Question 17

What is discrimination in classical conditioning?

Answer 17

Discrimination occurs when a conditioned response is only elicited by a specific stimulus and not by similar stimuli.

Question 18

What is generalisation in classical conditioning?

Answer 18

Generalisation occurs when a conditioned response is elicited by stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus.

Question 19

What is shaping in operant conditioning?

Answer 19

Shaping is a process of reinforcing successive approximations of a target behaviour until the desired behaviour is achieved.

Question 20

What is a fixed-ratio schedule in operant conditioning?

Answer 20

A fixed-ratio schedule provides reinforcement after a set number of responses.

Question 21

What is a variable-ratio schedule in operant conditioning?

Answer 21

A variable-ratio schedule provides reinforcement after a random number of responses making the behaviour highly resistant to extinction.