Behaviourism

Question 1

What is the behaviourist approach?

Answer 1

• Idea human behaviour can be explained through conditioning

- Focuses on observable events

Question 2

What are the 2 types of learning?

Answer 2

-Classical and Operant conditioning

Question 3

What is the first assumption in the behaviourist approach?

Answer 3

• We are born neutral and environment shapes who we are.

- e.g. if you are sporty you grew up in a sporty family

Question 4

What is the second assumption of the behaviourist approach?

Answer 4

-Behaviourists don’t believe in studying thoughts and emotions that can’t be measured

Question 5

What is the third assumption of the behaviourist approach?

Answer 5

• We learn through association
• Proposed by Pavlov: all animals are born with natural reflexes. If other stimuli are consistently associated with stimulus , trigger same response

Question 6

What is the fourth assumption of the behaviourist approach?

Answer 6

• Operant conditioning: learn through consequence and reinforcement
• 3 types of consequence: Positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement and punishment

Question 7

What was the idea behind Skinner’s research?

Answer 7

-Organisms spontaneously produce different behaviours

Question 8

P: Classical conditioning can be applied to treatment of phobias

Answer 8

E: Led to development of systematic desensitisation: reduces anxiety with phobia.
Replaced learned response with another response

L: Has real life application

Question 9

P: Criticism of classical conditioning comes from other theories of learning

Answer 9

E: Seligman used concept of preparedness to explain why some relationships are easier to establish than others.
Animals prepared to learn associations significant to survival

L: Species have different capabilities to learn through process of CC

Question 10

P: Operant conditioning uses experimental methods

Answer 10

E: Skinner’s research uses controlled conditions to discover causal relationships between 2 variables
Skinner box: manipulate consequences of behaviour to measure the effect on rats behaviour

L: Establish cause and effect between positive and negative reinforcement and likelihood of future behaviour

Question 11

P: Uses non-human animals

Answer 11

E: Can’t generalise to humans

L: Limits it’s use