Behaviourism approaches

Question 1

Assumptions of the approach

Answer 1

• Concerned with observable behaviour.
• Behaviour is the result of stimulus and response.
• When born, our mind is a blank slate.
• Little difference between learning in humans and other animals.
• All behaviour is the result of our environment.
• Psychology is a science.

Question 2

Reinforcement

Answer 2

anything which has the effect of increasing the likelihood of the behaviour being repeated.

Question 3

Positive reinforcement

Answer 3

anything which has the effect of increasing the likelihood of the behaviour being repeated by using consequences that are pleasant when they happen i.e food for the rat/pigeon. Giving a child sweet when they clean their room

Question 4

Negative reinforcement:

Answer 4

anything which has the effect of increasing the likelihood of the behaviour being repeated by using consequences that are pleasant when they stop. Aspirin to get rid of a headache. In simple terms, it is behaviour that makes something unpleasant go away.

Question 5

Punishment

Answer 5

Anything which has the effect of decreasing the likelihood of the behaviour being repeated by using consequences that are unpleasant when happen

Question 6

evaluation on operant and classical conditioning well controlled

Answer 6

• It is based on well controlled research. The high control and breaking down of cause-effect limited the influence of extraneous variables in the different experiments e.g., Skinner was able to clearly demonstrate how reinforcement influenced an animal’s behaviour.
• However, research has oversimplified the learning process and not considered the human aspect like social learning theory

Question 7

eval operant and classical principles

Answer 7

• Another strength is that the principles of conditioning have been applied to real-world behaviors and problems. E.g., it is the basis of token economy systems in institutions like prison.

Question 8

eval operant and classical ethic

Answer 8

• Ethically studies like Skinner’s where they had complete control over the subject animal can be criticized as ethically wrong. Animals were housed in harsh conditions.

Question 9

eval ioerenat and classical

Answer 9

• It argues that all behaviour is conditioned by past conditioning experiences, which ignores any possible influence that free will may have on behaviour, ignoring the influence of conscious decision making processes in behaviour.