Behaviourist

Question 1

What type of behaviour are they only concerned with studying?

Answer 1

Behaviour that can be observed and measured.

Question 2

What are we born as?

Answer 2

Tabula Rasa - A blank slate

Question 3

What is behaviour determined by?

Answer 3

Behaviour is determined by external factors and their influence on us (nurture). .

Question 4

What type of studies do they like to use?

Answer 4

Behaviourists prefer to use laboratory experiments and animal studies to test their theories.

Question 5

What is classical conditioning?

Answer 5

Learning through association

Question 6

Who conducted a study using classical conditioning?

Answer 6

Pavlov - 1972

Question 7

What are the 4 steps of classical conditioning?

Answer 7

1. Unconditioned stimulus – Unconditioned Response
2. Neutral stimulus – No response
3. Neutral stimulus + Unconditioned stimulus – Unconditioned Response
4. Conditioned stimulus – Conditioned response

Question 8

What is operant conditioning?

Answer 8

Learning by reinforcement

Question 9

Who carried out a study on operant conditioning?

Answer 9

Skinner - 1953

Question 10

What is positive reinforcement?

Answer 10

Positive consequence of a behaviour
Desirable behaviour more likely to occur

E.G Praise from a teacher for answering a question correctly in class

Question 11

What is punishment?

Answer 11

Negative consequence of a behaviour
Undesirable behaviour is less likely to occur

E.G Being arrested for breaking the law

Question 12

What is negative reinforcement?

Answer 12

Avoidance of a negative consequence of a behaviour by changing your behaviour
Desirable behaviour is more likely to occur

E.G Handing in homework so you don’t get told off

Question 13

What is a primary reinforcer?

Answer 13

Stimuli which are naturally reinforcing because they directly satisfy a need. E.g. food, water.

Question 14

What is a secondary reinforcer?

Answer 14

Stimuli which are reinforcing through their association with a primary reinforcer. E.g. they do not directly satisfy a need but may be the means to do so (money, clicker, stickers)

Question 15

What is behaviour shaping?

Answer 15

Reinforcing any behaviour that closely resembles that of the desired target behaviour then gradually becoming more selective by reinforcing similar behaviours until the target behaviour is produced.

Question 16

Weaknesses of Behaviourist approach

Answer 16

It is reductionist as it ignores the influences of nature and cognition on behaviour
Use of this perspective often relies on laboratory experiments which lack ecological validity
Many animal studies are used which cause problems when generalising to humans.

Question 17

Strengths of Behaviourist approach

Answer 17

It is very scientific and usually uses controlled experimental methods
It provides a strong counter-argument to the nature side of the nature-nurture debate.
Many useful applications such as desensitisation (treating phobias) and rehabilitation (token economies)