Behaviourist Approach

Question 1

Outline of beliefs

Answer 1

Interested in studying behaviour that can be observed and measured so rejected introspection as involved vague concepts difficult to measure. Tried to maintain control and objectivity within research.

Question 2

View on learning

Answer 2

Basic processes are the same in all species= animals could replace humans in research. Two types of learning are classical and operant conditioning.

Question 3

Classical conditioning and example

Answer 3

Process of learning through association by Pavlov. E: dogs conditioned to salivate to bell if sound repeatedly presented at same time as food, associate sound of bell with food. NS(bell) became conditioned stimulus causing CR(salivate)

Question 4

Operant conditioning

Answer 4

Process by which behaviour is shaped and maintained by its consequences.
(Skinner)

Question 5

Example of operant conditioning

Answer 5

Skinner boxes- monitor behaviour of rat in small time frame, every time rat activated lever was rewarded with food(PR) then received shock so when accidentally knocked a lever would stop the shock(NR)= next time went straight to lever, would receive shock when pressed lever (punishment)

Question 6

Three types of reinforcement and their impact

Answer 6

Positive rein: receiving reward when certain behaviour performed(increases chance of repetition)
Negative rein:avoids something unpleasant(increases chance of repetition)
Punishment: unpleasant consequence of behaviour (decreases chance of repetition)

Question 7

Expand on weakness that approach is based on studies of animal behaviour

Answer 7

-humans and animals are distinctly different in variety of ways eg communication=ignores complex nature of human learning
-adverse conditions that the animals were placed in during experiments may have affected way they react= not act same way as would do in natural environment
-may not be generalisable to human behaviour

Question 8

Expand on weakness that the behaviourist approach is deterministic

Answer 8

-claims all behaviour is determined by stimulus response and past conditioning=mechanistic view of behaviour
-approach ignores the concept of free will which plays a significant role in determining human behaviour= does not account for all human behaviour

Question 9

Expand on strength that approach relies heavily on experimental method

Answer 9

-experiments eg Skinner Box took place in highly controlled conditions=control over EVs=high internal validity so easier to replicate and be certain that IV caused DV
-however: artificial task and setting challenges ecological validity of the research