Behaviourism Flashcards
Describe two main types of behaviourism.
Radical behaviourism - all learning is a result of stimulus/response mechanisms
Social learning - behaviour is a result of observation and copying role models.
Evaluate the key assumptions of behaviourism.
Behaviourism assumes that all behaviour is learned from the environment, emphasizing observable and measurable actions rather than internal thoughts or feelings. It also posits that individuals are born as a ‘tabula rasa’ or blank slate.
Explain the concept of positive reinforcement in behaviourism.
Positive reinforcement involves providing a reward following a desired behaviour, which increases the likelihood of that behaviour being repeated in the future, such as giving a student a treat for achieving 100% on a spelling test.
How do behaviourists view the process of learning and unlearning behaviour?
Behaviourists believe that all behaviour is learned and can therefore be unlearned through the same mechanisms of reinforcement and conditioning.
Define classical conditioning and provide an example.
Classical conditioning is a learning process that involves pairing an unconditioned stimulus with a conditioned stimulus to elicit a conditioned response. An example is Pavlov’s experiment, where a bell (conditioned stimulus) was paired with food (unconditioned stimulus) to make dogs salivate (conditioned response) at the sound of the bell.
Describe the difference between classical and operant conditioning.
Classical conditioning involves associating an unconditioned stimulus with a conditioned stimulus to produce a conditioned response, while operant conditioning involves modifying behaviour through reinforcement or punishment.
Explain the significance of animal experiments in behaviourism.
Animal experiments are significant in behaviourism as they allow researchers to study observable and measurable behaviours under controlled conditions, with the assumption that findings can be generalized to human behaviour.
Analyse the similarities and differences between behaviourism and psychodynamic psychology.
Both behaviourism and psychodynamic psychology seek to explain human behaviour, but behaviourism focuses on observable actions and environmental influences, while psychodynamic psychology emphasizes internal processes and unconscious motivations.
Describe the role of reinforcement in behaviourism.
Reinforcement in behaviourism is a key mechanism that strengthens behaviour, either through direct rewards (operant conditioning) or through observing others being rewarded (vicarious reinforcement), leading to imitation.
Describe the unconditioned response of salivation in dogs.
The unconditioned response of salivation to steak is a natural response that does not need to be taught, as it is instinctive for dogs.
Explain operant conditioning and its components.
Operant conditioning involves consequences that lead to changes in voluntary behaviour, using reinforcement and punishment, which can be positive or negative.
Define positive reinforcement and provide an example.
Positive reinforcement is the addition of a rewarding stimulus to encourage behaviour, such as giving a sweet treat for getting 100% on a test.
What is negative reinforcement and how does it work?
Negative reinforcement involves the removal of an unpleasant stimulus to encourage behaviour, like the annoying noise in a car stopping when you put your seatbelt on.
Describe positive punishment and give an example.
Positive punishment is the addition of an unpleasant consequence to discourage behaviour, such as receiving extra homework for being disruptive in class.
Explain negative punishment and provide an example.
Negative punishment involves removing a pleasant stimulus to discourage behaviour, like losing iPad privileges for bad behaviour.
Who are the three key theorists associated with behaviourism?
Ivan Pavlov, John B. Watson, and B.F. Skinner.
What significant contribution did Ivan Pavlov make to psychology?
Pavlov made seminal contributions to the field of psychology through his research on classical conditioning in dogs.
What was the focus of Pavlov’s initial research?
Pavlov was initially studying dogs’ digestive systems by measuring their salivation rates in response to being fed food.
How does the behavioural approach in psychology explain human behaviour?
The behavioural approach posits that all behaviours are acquired through conditioning, which occurs through interactions with the environment. It emphasizes observable and measurable behaviours rather than internal mental processes.
Explain the assumptions of the behavioural approach as summarized by John Watson.
John Watson summarized the assumptions of the behavioural approach by stating that psychology should focus on observable behaviours, that behaviours are primarily learned through environmental interactions, and that findings from animal studies can be applied to humans.
What are the strengths of the behavioural approach in psychology?
Strengths of the behavioural approach include its scientific credibility due to lab-controlled experiments, the practical application of classical and operant conditioning in treatments, and its contributions to significant discoveries in psychology.
Discuss the limitations of the behavioural approach in psychology.
Limitations of the behavioural approach include its deterministic nature, as it does not consider cognitive processes, and its exclusion of biological factors that may influence learning and behaviour.
How do classical and operant conditioning relate to psychological treatments?
Classical and operant conditioning are central concepts in behavioural psychology that are applied in psychological treatments, such as systematic desensitization, which is used to treat phobias by gradually exposing individuals to their fears.
Describe the impact of behaviourism on the field of psychology.
Behaviourism significantly impacted psychology by establishing a focus on measurable and observable phenomena, leading to the development of experimental methods and the use of animal research to inform human psychology.
Explain the role of environmental stimuli in shaping behaviour according to behaviourism.
According to behaviourism, environmental stimuli play a crucial role in shaping behaviour, as all behaviours are acquired through conditioning that occurs through interactions with the environment.
Explain negative punishment and provide an example.
Negative punishment involves removing a pleasant stimulus to discourage behaviour, like losing iPad privileges for bad behaviour.
What did Pavlov notice about the dogs during his experiments?
Pavlov noticed that the dogs would start salivating before food was presented, indicating an association between a neutral stimulus and the unconditioned stimulus.
What was the neutral stimulus used in Pavlov’s experiment?
The sound of a bell was used as the neutral stimulus in Pavlov’s experiment.
What was the conditioned response in Pavlov’s experiment?
The conditioned response was the dogs salivating when they heard the bell, even without food being presented.
What were some strengths of Pavlov’s experiment?
The strengths included its empirical research and providing insight into the development of phobias.
What were some limitations of Pavlov’s experiment?
Limitations included the use of animals, which may not fully reflect the complexity of human behaviour.
What was the aim of the Little Albert experiment conducted by Watson and Rayner?
The aim was to determine whether emotions, such as fear, were innate or learned over time through classical conditioning.
What ethical concerns arose from the Little Albert experiment?
The ethical concerns included intentionally exposing a 9-month-old infant to fear and distress.
What was the primary stimulus used in the Little Albert experiment?
The primary stimulus used was a white rat.
How did Watson induce a fear response in Little Albert?
Watson paired the presentation of the rat with a loud noise, which scared Albert.
What was the outcome of the Little Albert experiment?
Albert developed a fear of the rat and other objects he had not previously feared.
What methodological flaws have critics pointed out regarding the Little Albert study?
Critics have questioned whether conditioning actually occurred due to the small sample size and subjective interpretations of Albert’s reactions.
What concept did B.F. Skinner develop in psychology?
Skinner developed the concept of operant conditioning.
What is a “Skinner box”?
A Skinner box is a device used by Skinner to study how behaviour is shaped by consequences.
In what year was Skinner’s key work “The Behaviour of Organisms” published?
Skinner’s key work was published in 1938.
What is operant conditioning?
Operant conditioning is a method of learning that occurs through rewards and punishments for behaviour.
What are the main concepts introduced by Skinner in relation to operant conditioning?
Skinner introduced the concepts of operant conditioning and reinforcement, which involve learning through rewards and punishments for behaviour.
What is positive reinforcement in the context of operant conditioning?
Positive reinforcement strengthens a behaviour by adding a pleasant stimulus.
What is the purpose of the operant conditioning chamber, also known as the ‘Skinner Box’?
The operant conditioning chamber, or ‘Skinner Box’, was developed to study how animals, such as rats, interacted with their environment and learned from it when provided with rewards like food.
What are some criticisms of Skinner’s theory of operant conditioning?
Critics argue that Skinner’s theory relies heavily on animal research, raising questions about generalizing findings to complex human behaviour, and that it focuses too narrowly on simple stimulus-response conditioning without considering innate biological factors or higher-order behaviours.
How did Skinner’s work contribute to the field of psychology?
Skinner’s research significantly contributed to psychology by establishing the principles of operant conditioning, introducing influential concepts, and pioneering experimental techniques, thereby helping behaviourism gain credibility as a quantitative science.
