behaviourist approach Flashcards
what is the behaviourist approach?
the idea that all behaviours are learned through interaction with environment and that we are born as a blank slate ‘tabula rose’.
what are two assumptions of the behaviourist approach?
- that we are born as a blank slate and learn things thorughout life along the way.
- humans and animals kearn behaviour in similar ways.
- behaviour is learned and maintained through classical and operant conditioning.
what is classsical conditioning?
learning by association.
what is operant conditioning?
learning in which behaviour is shaped and maintained by its consequences.
explain the stages of Pavlovs research
UCS- uncontrollede stimulus (food)
UCR- unconditioned response (salivating)
NS- neutral stimulus (bell)
CS- conditioned stimulus (bell and food association)
CR- conditioned response (salivating to the sound of a bell)
what is the meaning of unconditioned stimulus?
the stimulus that inevitably produces an innate reflex response.
what is the meaning of an unconditioned response?
the innate reflex response to a stimulus
what is the meaning of a neutral stimulus?
a stimulus that initially does not produce the target response.
what is the meaning of a conditioned stimulus?
what the neutral stimulus becomes after being paired with the unconditioned stimulus.
what is the meaning of a conditioned response?
a response elicited by the conditioned stimulus.
what is positive reinforcement?
an increase of the probability that a behaviour will be repeated because it is pleasurable.
what is negative reinforcement?
a stimulus that increases the probability that a behaviour will be repeated because it leads to escape from an unpleasant situation and is experience as rewarding.
what is a punishment?
an unpleasant consequence given in response to a behaviour.
what experiment did B.F skinner carry out?
skinner conducted experiments using specially designed cages called skinner boxes. every time the rat activated a lever within the box it was rewarded with a food pellet. from then on the animal would continue to perform the behaviour (positive reinforcement). Skinner also showed how rats andd pigeons could be conditioned to perform the same behaviour to avoid an unpleasant stimulus, for example an electric shock (negative reinforcement).
what are three strengths of the behaviourist approach?
- allows psychologists to investigate the effect of the environment on behaviour.
- it is very scientific and usually uses controlled experimental methods.
- many useful applications such as treatment of phobias or token economy systems.
