behaviourist approach Flashcards
what is the focus of the behaviourist approach?
studying behaviour that can be observed and measured in controlled lab studies
what is classical conditioning?
learning through association UCS—>UCR NS—>NR NS+UCS—>UCR NS becomes CS CS—>CR
what is an example of classical conditioning?
Pavlov () - conditioned dogs to salivate when a bell rang UCS(food)—>UCR(salivation) NS(bell)—>no response UCS+NS—>UCR CS(bell)—>CR(salivation)
what is operant conditioning?
learning where behaviour is shaped and maintained my it’s consequences
what is reinforcement?
increases the likelihood a behaviour will be repeated due to the consequences
what is positive reinforcement?
receiving a reward when behaviour is performed
what is negative reinforcement?
avoiding something unpleasant when a behaviour is performed
what is punishment?
an unpleasant consequence
decreases the likelihood a behaviour will be repeated
what is an example of operant conditioning?
Skinner () - rats and pigeons in a Skinner box
activated a lever and is rewarded (positive)
pressing lever avoids electric shock (negative)
strength: well controlled research
- focuses on measurable and observable behaviour in controlled lab setting
- broken behaviour into stimulus-response relationship
- behaviourist experiments have scientific credibility
limitation : oversimplifies and ignores influences on behaviour
- oversimplifies learning and ignores important influences on behaviour eg thought
- learning is more complex than what is observable
strength: real world application
- token economy systems - reward appropriate behaviour with tokens that can be exchanged for privileges (operant)
- used in prisons and psychiatric wards
- increases value of behaviourist approach (widespread application)
limitation : environmental determinism
- ignores free will and conscious decision making
- suggests all behaviour is determined by past experience that have been conditioned
- Skinner believes free will is an illusion
limitation : ethical issues
- skinner box allowed high degree of control over ‘subjects’
- animals were in bad conditions eg always kept hungry
