Behaviourist Approach

Question 1

Introduction to Behaviourist Approach - Watson and his ideas, Skinner, Pavlov (VAGUE)

Answer 1

• founded by JB Watson in 1915
• rejects vagueness of INTROSPECTION
• ‘we are products of our learning, experience + environment’

Ivan Pavlov = theory of classic conditioning (CC)

B.F Skinner = theory of operant conditioning (OC)

• Watson believes we are born as ‘tabula rasa’ (blank minds)

at birth we have capacity to learn , all behaviour is learned from environment

focus is observable behaviour

animal behaviour can be similarly applied to humans - little difference in learning for animals + humans (suggesting we behave in same way)

stimulus is an automatic response

Question 2

Abbreviations you need to know

Answer 2

Unconditioned stimulus = UCS

Unconditioned response = UCR

Neutral stimulus = NS

Conditioned Response = CR

Conditioned Stimulus = CS

Reflex = automatic response (uncontrolled)

Question 3

Classic Conditioning (CC) - Pavlov

Pavlov’s Dogs

Answer 3

• learning via association

1. establishes food causes the dog to salivate

UCS = food

UCR = saliva

2. establish dog doesn’t salivate at bell sound

bell = no saliva

3. then presents bell with food, repeated number of times, the dog begins to salivate at food

UCS (food) + NS (bell) = UCR (saliva)

4. after several trials of this, found dog would salivate at sound of bell alone

CS (bell) = CR (saliva)

5. dog is now conditioned

Question 4

Little Albert - CC

Answer 4

Watson + Rayner (1920)

• demonstrate behaviour is learnt + phobia of rats could be conditioned in human being

Neutral stimulus (NS) = no fear of rats (before conditioning)

A loud bang (UCS) = fear + anxiety (UCR) (before conditioning)

rat (NS) + loud bang (UCS) = fear (UCR) (during conditioning)

rat (CS) = fear (CR) (evidence of conditioning)

Question 5

Operant Conditioning (OC)

Answer 5

Skinner (1904 - 1990)

• all behaviour is learnt as result of consequences

REINFORCEMENT = increasing the likelihood of the behaviour being repeated

POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT =increasing the
likelihood of the behaviour being repeated by using consequences that are pleasant when they happen

NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT = increasing the likelihood of the behaviour being repeated by removing unpleasant consequences

PUNISHMENT =decreasing the likelihood
of the behaviour being repeated by using consequences that are unpleasant

Question 6

Skinner’s Box (Positive Reinforcement)

Answer 6

• a hungry rat was placed in a Skinner box, box contained a lever in the side
• as the rat moved about the box would accidentally knock
  the lever
• so a food pellet would drop into a
  container next to the lever.
• rats quickly learned to go straight
  to the lever for a pellet after a few times

Question 7

Skinner’s Box (Negative Reinforcement)

Answer 7

• a rat was placed in a Skinner box and
  then was subjected to electric shocks which caused it discomfort.
• As the rat moved about
  the box would accidentally knock
  the lever.
• Immediately when the lever fell, the
  electric current would be switched
  off/prevent electric shock.

The rats quickly learned to go straight to
the lever after a few times of being
put in the box.

Question 8

Principles of REINFORCEMENT

Answer 8

• reinforcements need to be immediate
• behaviours are more likely to be repeated

-been applied to the treatment of behaviour