Behaviourist approach

Question 1

Summarise the key ideas of the behaviourist approach

Answer 1

• Environment shapes behaviour, all behaviour is learnt. We begin as ‘blank slate’
• Classical/Operant conditioning

Question 2

Define classical conditioning in terms of stimuli + 2 key features

Think Pavlovs dog

Answer 2

Pairing an unconditioned stimulus with a neutral stimulus to produce a conditioned response\

Timing - a strong association is formed when 2 stimuli are presented at once.
- Stimulus generalisation - conditioned stimulus can be slightly altered and still produce the same response.

Question 3

Briefly outline the little Albert experiment

Answer 3

John B Watson led the experiment, conditioning a baby to fear certain animals using a loud noise (inherent phobia)

Question 4

Define operant conditioning

Example experiment?

Answer 4

A method of learning that uses reward/punishment to alter behaviour

Skinners rat

Question 5

Define Positive/Negative reinforcement

+ example

Answer 5

Removing something unpleasant to increase likelihood of desired behaviour
* Leaving house early to avoid being late for work

Question 6

1 example of:
- unconditioned stimulus
- unconditioned response
- conditioned stimulus
- conditioned response
- neutral stimulus

Answer 6

• food
• salivation
• bell
• salvation in response to bell
• bell - at first elicits no response

Question 7

2 pros/cons of Behavioural approach

Answer 7

• It has been used to treat phobias - systematic desentisitation
• lab based - systematic
• Relied heavily on non-human animals in testing - can’t generalise to humans - they have free will.
• Single minded approach - ignores other factors influencing behaviour.