Behaviourist Approach Flashcards
What does the behaviourist approach argue?
We are all born a tabula rasa (blank slate)- not born with in built mental content
What is the belief in this approach?
Nurture belief- behaviour, language, development, aggression and abnormal behaviour is learned from interactions after birth
How should the behaviourist approach be studied?
Observed in controlled lab settings- studied in a scientific way
What is the approach views on animals?
Learning is the same for both humans and animals, therefore able to study on animals to make generalisations on human behaviour
What is classical conditioning and who implemented it?
Learning through association- Pavlov
What is Pavlov`s dog experiment?
Pavlov gave a dog food to see response.
Food= unconditioned stimulus: dog responded by salivating which is an unconditioned response
Pavlov then rang a bell (neutral stimulus) to which the dog didn`t respond (neutral response)
Pavlov then rang the bell with the food (ns + ucs) to which the dog responded by salivating
Now when Pavlov rang the bell (conditioned stimulus) the dog responded by salivating= conditioned response
What is operant conditioning and who implemented it?
Learning through reinforcement- Skinner
What is Skinner`s rat box?
Skinner tested on rats to see results on reinforcement and punishment
What is positive punishment?
Increase in certain behaviour because it produces a reward
Every time the rat pressed the lever it received a food pellet
What is negative reinforcement?
Increase in certain behaviour because it removes something unpleasant
Rat was subjected to an electric shock, pressing the lever would stop the electric shock
What is punishment?
Positive punishment- receive something unpleasant
Negative punishment- something you like is taken away
Every time animal pressed the lever it received an electric shock
What is a strength of the behaviourist approach?
Scientific- uses objective methods and quantitative methods
Eg. Skinner and Pavlov
Indicates scientific credibility and validity
However could be weakness due to assumptions that animals and humans learn in the same way
What is a weakness of the approach?
Only focuses on nurture- views results from upbringing
Eg. Watson argued if we shape a child`s environment we can train them to become doctor, lawyer, theif
Ignores nature therefore deterministic
