Behaviourist Approach Flashcards
Behaviourists rejected introspections and studying mental processes of the mind so what are they concerned with?
Studying behaviour which can be observed and measured.
Do behaviourists use controlled lab studies or natural study?and why?
Controlled lab as they want to maintain control and objectivity.
Behaviourists claim that the processes that governs learning are …
The same in all species
Which researcher studied classical conditioning, learning by association?
Ivan Pavlov
What did Pavlov do?
Conditioned dogs to associate a bell with food so they salivated at the sound o the bell.
Define operant conditioning ?
Refers to learning as an active process whereby humans and animals operate in their on environment.
Behaviour is shared and maintained by its consequences. ( positive/negative reinforcement and punishment)
Who studied operant conditions and what did they do?
-Skinner and his rats.
-rat activated lever and was rewarded with a food pellet
-which led to repetition of the behaviour (positive reinforcement)
-the same append where if pressing the lever avoided an electric shock (negative reinforcement)
What is positive reinforcement?
Rewarding when a behaviour is performed
What is negative reinforcement?
Avoiding something unpleasant when behaviour is performed
What is punishment?
An unpleasant consequence of a behaviour
What’s the difference between positive/negative reinforcement and punishment?
P/N reinforcement increases the chance of a behaviour occurring where as a punishment decreases it.
What are 2 strengths of behaviourist approach?
+ uses well controlled lab studies
+ real world application (token economy systems in psychiatric wards)
What are 2 limitations of the behaviourist approach?
- doesn’t incorporate mental processes and other approaches e.g. cognitive or social learning
- form of environmental determinism, ignores any influences of free will
- ethical issues of studies e.g. skinners rats , hungry poor cramped conditions
