Behaviourist Approach

Question 1

What is the behaviourist approach?

Answer 1

A way of explaining behaviour in terms of what is observable and in terms of learning

Question 2

When did behaviourism begin?

Answer 2

20th century

Question 3

How do behaviourists describe a baby’s mind?

Answer 3

Blank slate (Watson), written on by experience

Question 4

What are the two forms of learning?

Answer 4

• Classical conditioning
• Operant conditioning

Question 5

Who researched classical conditioning?

Answer 5

Ivan Pavlov

Question 6

Who researched operant conditioning?

Answer 6

B.F. Skinner

Question 7

What is classical conditioning?

Answer 7

Learning through association

Question 8

What did Pavlov’s research show?

Answer 8

Dogs could be conditioned to salivate at the sound of a bell

Question 9

What is the formula for classical conditioning?

Answer 9

ns
ucs=ucr
ns+ucs=ucr
cs=cr

Question 10

What is the formula for classical conditioning for Pavlov’s study?

Answer 10

ns (bell)= no response
ucs (food)= ucr (salivation)
ns (bell) + ucs (food) = ucr (salivation)
cs (bell) = cr (salivation)

Question 11

What is operant conditioning?

Answer 11

Behaviour is shaped by its consequences

Question 12

What is positive reinforcement?

Answer 12

A reward for good behaviour

Question 13

What is negative reinforcement?

Answer 13

Avoiding something unpleasant due to good behaviour

Question 14

What is punishment?

Answer 14

An unpleasant consequence of bad behaviour

Question 15

What did Skinner’s research show?

Answer 15

Rats and pigeons can be conditioned to perform the same behaviour to avoid an unpleasant stimulus

Question 16

What is the formula for operant conditioning?

Answer 16

Antecedent > Behaviour > Consequence

Question 17

What is the formula for operant conditioning for Skinner’s study?

Answer 17

Light turns on > Rat presses lever > Food stops electric floor

Question 18

What are variable and fixed ratio?

Answer 18

Variable= reinforcement delivered randomly, after an average number of responses has occurred
Fixed= reinforcement delivered over a period of time (aware of when reinforcement will be delivered)

Question 19

What is primary and secondary reinforcement?

Answer 19

Primary= used to satisfy basic needs
Secondary= reinforced after a primary reinforcement

Question 20

What are the strengths of the behaviourist approach?

Answer 20

• Real world application
• Scientific credibility

Question 21

What are the limitations of the behaviourist approach?

Answer 21

• Ignores influence of free will and conscious decision making
• Ignores the factor of private mental processes
• Over simplified the learning process- ignore influence of the human thought

Question 22

Who were the behaviourist psychologists?

Answer 22

Watson, Skinner, Pavlov

Question 23

Strength-
I= Well-controlled research

Answer 23

D= Focus on measurement of observable behaviour in highly controlled lab settings. Breaking down behaviour into basic-stimulus response units allows extraneous variables to be removed, so cause and effect relationships can be established
E= Suggests behaviourist experiments have scientific credibility

Question 24

Limitation-
I= Oversimplified learning process

Answer 24

D= By reducing behaviour to such simple concepts, behaviourists ignore the influence of human thought on learning. Other approaches (SLT, cognitive) draw attention to mental processes involved in learning
E= Suggests learning is more complex than observable behaviour, and private mental processes are essential

Question 25

Strength-
I= Conditioning applied to real-world situations

Answer 25

D= E.g: token economy systems used in prisons and psychiatric wards demonstrate operant conditioning- reward good behaviour with tokens that can be exchanged for privileges. Treatment for phobias used concept of classical conditioning
E= Increases validity of approach as it has widespread application

Question 26

Limitation-
I= Environmental determinism (sees all behaviour as conditioned by past conditions experiences)

Answer 26

D= Skinners suggests everything we do is the sum total of our reinforcement history. Our past conditioning history determines the outcome of our lives. This ignores the influence of free will
E= Ignores influence of conscious-decision making processes on behaviour

Question 27

Ethical issues

Answer 27

Strength-
- No ethical guidelines against using animals in studies at the time of research. Animal studies revolutionised psychology and research has many practical benefits

Limitation-
- Animals in studies kept for long periods of time, in uncomfortable and cramped conditions. In modern psychology, research that causes distress to animals is against ethical guidelines so is subject to a cost-benefit analysis

Question 28

What are the assumptions of the behaviourist approach?

Answer 28

• Study observable and measurable behaviours
• Watson rejects introspection
• Lab studies used to achieve control and objectivity of research
• All behaviour is learned
• Baby’s mind= ‘blank slate’, written on by experience
• Animals replace humans as experimental subjects
• 2 forms of learning: classical and operant conditioning