behaviourist approach Flashcards
assumptions
observable
basic processes same in all species
what is classical conditioning?
behaviour is learnt through association
what research to back up classical conditioning?
Pavlov’s dogs:
conditioned bell (now conditioned stimulus) with food (neutral stimulus) to cause salivation (now conditioned response)
neutral stimulus can come to elicit a new learned response through association
what is operant conditioning?
behaviour is learnt through consequences
what are the four types of consequences?
positive reinforcement
negative reinforcement
positive punishment
negative punishment
what is positive reinforcement?
adding a positive stimulus to encourage behaviour
receiving a reward
what is negative reinforcement?
adding a negative stimuls to discourage behaviour
what is positive punishment?
removing a positive stimulus to discourage behaviour
what is negative punishment?
removing a negative stimulus to encourage behaviour
what research backs up operant conditioning?
Skinner’s box
using rats/pigeons
every time the animal pushed a lever it would be rewarded with a food pellet
weaknesses
environmental determinism
ethical and practical issues with using animal experiments
mental events not included
strengths
real life application
scientific credibility
scientific credibility
focusing on measuring observable behaviour within highly controlled lab settings
gave psychology greater credibility and status
real life application
basis of token economy systems (used successfully in prisons and psychiatric wards)
treatment of phobias (flooding/systematic desensitisation)
mechanistic view of behaviour
animals are seen as passive and machine-like responders to the environment
no conscious insight into their behaviour
may apply less to human than animal behaviour
