behaviourist approach Flashcards
classical conditioning
the idea that all behaviour is learned
john watson (little albert)
behaviourists argue that we are all born as a blank slate
pavlovs dogs
a neutral stimulus was introduced (bell) and the dog gave no response
unconditioned stimulus is introduced (steak) and the dog salvation (unconditioned response)
bell and steak at the same time and the dog has salvation
after conditioning the conditioned stimulus (bell) produces a conditioned response (salvation)
operant conditioning
a method of learning that occurs through reward and punishment for behaviour
Skinner argued classical conditioning was too simple to explain human behaviour
he believed we should look at the cause and action of consequences
token economy systems
positive reinforcement to produce desirable behaviour
e.g prisons may reduce a sentence for good behaviour
adv of classical and operant conditioning
can apply to a broad range of real life behaviours
allowed psych to develop as a science
found treatment for phobias
deterministic - increased internal validity
disadv of classical and operant conditioning
may apply more to animals than to humans
ignores any influence that free will has on behaviour
skinner through free will was untrue - reductionist
lacks validity most research is done in labs
cannot generalise
could be unethical (little albert)
social learning theory
argues that we can learn from seeing others rewarded or punished
learning through modelling
takes info account free will
developed by bandura (role models tend to be the same gender, slightly older)
vicarious reinforcement
seeing someone get a positive response from their actions makes you want to copy/ follow
seeing someone get a negative response u will not follow
banduras bobo doll
women beats up a doll while a young child watches
the child enters the room afterwards and copies the woman
mediational processes
ARRM
attention: notice the behaviour
retention: memory of the behaviour
reproduction: ability to perform the behaviour
motivation: desire to perform (reward and punishment will be considered)
adv of social learning theory
holistic as it allows for situational and individual factors + cognition
allows for free will
high practical application
disadv of social learning theory
cannot understand for how we develop ranges of behaviours
partially reductionist as it underestimates human behaviours
research based in labs my lack ecological validity