Behaviourist Approach

Question 1

Why was the behaviourist approach developed?

Answer 1

In an attempt to make psychology more scientific by using highly controlled experiments

Question 2

What is classical conditioning?

Answer 2

It happens when a neutral stimulus (NS), is consistently paired with an unconditioned stimulus (UCS), so that eventually the NS is conditioned to be a conditioned stimulus (CS) producing the response caused by the UCS
—> learning by association

Question 3

How did Pavlov demonstrate classical conditioning in dogs? (1897)

Answer 3

He got dogs to associate the sound of a bell (NS then CS) with food (UCS), and drool (R) to the CS

Question 4

What is operant conditioning?

Answer 4

Learning from connection between behaviors and consequences

Question 5

How did Skinner (1938) explore operant conditioning?

Answer 5

He used rats that learnt from trial and error that pulling on a leaver would produce and food pellet - the leaver pulling behaviour became more frequent over time.

Question 6

What’s positive reinforcement?

Answer 6

Adding a stimulus to increase behaviour

Question 7

What’s negative reinforcement?

Answer 7

Removing a stimulus to increase behaviour

Question 8

What’s punishment?

Answer 8

Adding a stimulus to decrease behaviour