Behaviourist Approach

Question 1

Who was the behaviourist approach developed by

Answer 1

John Watson

Question 2

Assumptions of behaviourist approach

Answer 2

• most behaviours learned through experience as we interact with our environment
• psychologists should study observable behaviour only -> based on empirical evidence
• use animal research to reach conclusions about human behaviour, believe we use same learning mechanisms

Question 3

What are the 2 learning mechanisms

Answer 3

1. Classical conditioning
2. Operant conditioning

Question 4

What is classical conditioning

Answer 4

Something neutral becomes associated with something that already makes you feel a certain way

Question 5

Explain the stages of classical conditioning

Answer 5

Before -> neutral stimulus = causes no response + unconditioned stimulus causes unconditioned response
During -> neutral stimulus becomes associated with unconditioned stimulus (NS + UCS)
After -> neutral stimulus becomes conditioned stimulus causing conditioned response

Question 6

What is a neutral stimulus

Answer 6

When a stimulus doesn’t make you feel/ respond in a certain way

Question 7

What is an unconditioned stimulus and response

Answer 7

When a stimulus does make you feel/ respond a certain way
The response we get from an UCS

Question 8

Who did study support for classical conditioning

Answer 8

Ivan Pavlov 1903

Question 9

Ivan Pavlov 1903: outline study

Answer 9

Before -> neutral stimulus = bell Unconditioned stimulus = food Unconditioned response = saliva

During -> dogs formed association between bell + food as NS became associated with UCS

After -> conditioned stimulus = bell Unconditioned response = salivation

Question 10

What is operant conditioning

Answer 10

Learn to associate actions with an outcome

Question 11

What is positive reinforcement

Answer 11

More likely to repeat behaviour, actions are reinforced by receiving a reward

Question 12

What is negative reinforcement

Answer 12

More likely to repeat a behaviour, actions are reinforced as smth negative being taken away

Question 13

What is punishment

Answer 13

When a negative outcome makes you less likely to repeat a behaviour

Question 14

Who did study support for operant conditioning

Answer 14

BF Skinner

Question 15

BF Skinner method

Answer 15

• lab experiment on rats
• 1 rat at a time placed in glass box containing different stimuli = lever releasing for + electroplated floor

Question 16

BF Skinner found

Answer 16

• rats learned to associate pressing lever with getting food (reward) -> POSITIVE reinforcement
• rats learned to avoid electric shock by pressing lever when light came on, making pain stop (avoiding punishment-> NEGATIVE reinforcement

Question 17

Strengths of behaviourist approach

Answer 17

+ learning mechanisms can be used to develop psychological treatment
* classical conditioning= treat anxiety+ phobias by replacing negative associations with positive association
+ very scientific ->Skinners study = lab experiment, researchers can apply scientific method to research
* high internal validity, high control over extraneous variables
* high reliability, highly standardised

Question 18

Weaknesses of behaviourist approach

Answer 18

• overly reductionist, only focus on nurture side of nature - nurture debate
  
  • born with certain behaviours, inherited from parents
  • high reliability, highly standardised
    Animal studies :
• lack generalisability
• unethical (cause harm + distress)

Question 19

What is environmental determinism

Answer 19

Our behaviour is determined by stimuli and outcomes in our environment.

Question 20

Behaviourist approach assumes we don’t have…

Answer 20

Free will as behaviour is determined by environmental factors