Behaviourist Approach Flashcards
What is assumption 1 of the behaviourist approach?
Humans are born like a blank slate
- tabula rasa
Humans are born like a blank slate
-be
-as1
- new borns are born almost completely neutral
= only basic responses - moulded by their environment
- through experience- nothing is innate
NURTURE- upbringing, ignores biological bases
DETERMINISTIC- environment is responsible and determines our behaviour
What is assumption 2 of the behaviourist approach?
Behaviour is learned through conditioning
Behaviour is learned through conditioning
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-as2
CLASSICAL- PAVLOV’S dogs
>association
> previous unlearned response & neutral stimulus
> conditioned stimulus & conditioned response
OPERANT- SKINNER’S rats
>consequences
> more voluntary
> positive/negative reinforcement
What is assumption 3 of the behaviourist approach?
Humans and animals learn in similar ways
Humans and animals learn in similar ways
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-as3
- generalise animals to humans
- product of their environment
- behaviour determined by stimulus response
- conditioning on animals- effect
Humans and animals learn in similar ways
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-as3
CLASSICAL- aversion therapy
eat unhealthy, mild shock, aversion created, craving reduced
OR pleasurable stimulation so they continue to eat
OPERANT- token economy
- behaviour modification through a physical gain
- use with disabled people and those with mental illnesses
What is the therapy for the behaviourist approach?
AVERSION THERAPY
What is component 1 of aversion therapy?
-be
Classical conditioning
Classical conditioning
-be
-c1
- pair unwanted behaviour with the unpleasant stimulus
- you the avoid this behaviour due to the conditioned response
What is component 2 of aversion therapy?
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Covert sensitisation
Covert sensitisation
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-c2
- same principles as classical conditioning minus the unpleasant stimulus
- imagine the scenario
What is component 3 of aversion therapy?
Operant conditioning
Operant conditioning
-be
-c3
- once association has been made they avoid future contact with a situation that may lead to unwanted behaviour
- negative reinforcement motivates them to avoid it
- e.g. an alcoholic avoiding a pub
What is component 4 of aversion therapy?
New developments
New developments
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-c4
- use some drugs
- TRYPTOPHSN METABOLITES
- mix with alcohol which induces nausea
- gives aversive effect
- when u avoid alcohol- induces tranquillity
Effectiveness of aversion therapy
👍RESEARCH SUPPORT
-be
- alcoholics showed a higher level of abstinence than counselling
- 300 smoker 52% shock- 1 year abstinence- SMITH
Effectiveness of aversion therapy
X TREATING THE SYMPTOM AND NO THE CAUSE
-be
- once the act stops they may still want to
- don’t find the deeper root of the problem
Effectiveness of aversion therapy
X PATIENT DROP OUT
-be
- 50% of patients refuse treatment/ drop out
- only willing participants participate
BANCROFT
Effectiveness of aversion therapy
X EFFECTS MAY NOT BE LONG TERM
-be
- may appear to recover but overt back
- re-lapse in 6months or year etc
- may not be effective/ useful in long term situations
Ethics of aversion therapy
X TREATMENT OF HOMOSEXUALITY
-be
- used to treat homosexuality till 2006
- place men in very unpleasant situations
- given drugs and show images of pin-up males
- extremely unethical
Ethics of aversion therapy
X CONTROL
-be
- unpleasant impact on the patient
- electric shocks/ vomit-inducing drugs
- criticised for the therapist having too much control
- MAY CAUSE ADDITIONAL TRAUMA
What was the research conducted in the behaviourist approach?
WATSON AND RAYNOR
- can fear be conditioned?
- conditioned emotional reactions
METHODOLOGY
for Watson and Raynor’s research
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- controlled observation
- LITTLE ALBERT
healthy development, unemotional, stability=reason - not a case study
no in-depth study of background or life - not an experiment
not manipulating IV to see effect on the DV
PROCEDURE
for Watson and Raynor’s research#
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1) establish emotional response
2) transfer conditioned response to other stimuli
3) effect of time
11.3- white rat, loud noise
11.10- repeat joint representations
11.15- rabbit/dog
11.20- change location
12.21- santa clause mask, fur
FINDINGS
for Watson and Raynor’s research
-be
11.3- rat - fell forward
11.10- rat - fell, cried, crawled
11.15- rat-fell over- CW- kicked away
11.20- rat - bent over crying
12.21- SC mask- cried/ whimpered
How did Watson and Raynor’s research disagree with Freud?
- sexual event concerning mother
- all transferred in fear of furry things
- behaviourist = simpler way
CONCLUSIONS
for Watson and Raynor’s research
-be
CAN FEAR BE CONDITIONED?
- yes no signs of fear before and signs of fear after
CAN IT BE TRANSFERRED?
- yes due to stimulus generalisation - rabbit and the dog
DOES THE CONDITONED RESPONSE CHANGE OVER TIME?
- yes it will persist weeks or even months later
EMOTIONAL RESPONSE REMOVED?
- no it is likely to persist but Albert moved away
- they ere going to recondition him using candy as a pleasant stimulus
INCIDENTAL FINDINGS
of Watson and Raynor’s research
-be
- Little Albert sucked his thumb for comfort
- this made the fear response disappear
- blocked out the fear response
Methodological issues with Watson and Raynor’s research
👍HIGH LEVELS OF CONTROL
-be
- controlled environment
- extraneous variables controlled for
- the study was filmed
X low ecological validity
Methodological issues with Watson and Raynor’s research
X SAMPLE
-be
- only 1 participant
- no control group
- cannot be generalised
- repeated exposure
Ethical issues with Watson and Raynor’s research
X INFORMED CONSENT
-be
- not true consent
- mother did not fully know what was happening to her child
Ethical issues with Watson and Raynor’s research
X CONFIDENTIALITY
-be
- given mothers full name and occupation
- made Little Albert identifiable
Ethical issues with Watson and Raynor’s research
X PROTECTION FROM HARM
-be
- did not leave in the same mental state and was more distressed
Ethical issues with Watson and Raynor’s research
X RIGTH TO WITHDRAW
-be
- non-verbal could not say to leave as he was too young to speak
- cried (findings)
Social implications of Watson and Raynor’s research
-be
EDUCATION - classroom environments
WORKPLACE - google (productivity-no uniform)
LAW- Qs of responsibility
HEALTH- association used in health campaigns
FAMILIES- condition children (nurture/rearing)
Alternative evidence of Watsons and Raynor’s research
X OH MOHWRER
-be
- operant conditioning/ maintenance of phobias
- TWO PROCESSS THEORY
Alternative evidence of Watson and Raynor’s research
X SELIGMAN
-be
- genetically programmed to rapidly learn association
- ANCIENT FEARS- heights
Scientific benefits of Watson and Raynor’s research
-be
- more people were helped than harmed
- thousands of children helped
What is the DEBATE in the behaviourist approach?
Should conditioning techniques be used on children
What is theme 1 in the behaviourist debate?
Effectiveness of conditioning
What is the FOR argument for the effectiveness of conditioning?
-be
-deb
THEME 1
- positively changes behaviour
LOVITT
operant is effective on children with disabilities -token e
create procedure, maintain
> EMPLOYABLE ECONOMICALLY - learn to follow instructions
What is the AGAINST argument for the effectiveness of conditioning
-be
-deb
-THEME1
- negatively modify behaviour
DWECK - ‘learned helplessness’
believe they have no control and give up
> ECONOMY- GIVE UP- BENEFITS ETC - worsen MH long term
What is theme 2 in the behaviourist debate?
Conditioning at home
What is the FOR argument for conditioning at home?
-be
-deb
-THEME 2
- parents get the desired behaviour off their child
UNI OF MICHIGAN
‘naughty step’ = no harm
physical - aggressive
ns= no adverse effect
> SOCIAL- parent can improve Cs behaviour - improves child-parent relationship
What is the AGAINST argument for conditioning at home?
-be
-deb
THEME 3
- If parents do not accurately do it it could mentally damage their child
MORRIS- inconsistency of naught step - if the parents slip up it can confuse the child
SI - leads to isolation so they withdraw from socialising - manipulative behaviour unethical
What is Theme 3 of the behaviourist debate?
Conditioning in schools
Theme 3 - conditioning in schools FOR argument
-be
-aids children massively
SKINNER- reinforcement helps to motivate
MCALLISTER- avoided disapproval from teacher so stopped talking in class
SI- more educated and focused, contribute more to economy in future
- higher attainment means they will perform better in school
Theme 3 - conditioning in schools AGAINST argument
-be
- use of rewards in school have a negative impact long term
ARTICLE- only behave well for a reward- undermines intrinsic motivation
DECI supports this claim as his college students gave up when others didn’t
SI- long term selfish as they will only do things to benefit themselves - this kills intrinsic motivation which is not effective at all
Is the behaviourist approach deterministic or free will?
Deterministic
Deterministic
be
X environment shapes up
X born as blank slate
X addictions and phobias can be created through classical conditioning
X this removes moral and personal responsibility of choices and behaviour
Is the behaviourist approach Reductionist or Holistic?
Reductionist
Reductionist
be
- simple stimulus response relationships
- humans and animals learn in the same way
= CONDITIONED SIMILARLY - treatments and interventions can be made more effective as we can pinpoint the cause to develop
How is the behaviourist approach applied to society?
- systematic desensitisation to treat phobias
- GILL- parents reward children for doing chores
- this benefits the population as it provides evidence to show the approach is valid
Is the behaviour approach idiographic or nomothetic?
Nomothetic
Nomothetic
be
- develop general laws regarding learning- ALL born as a blank state
- applied universally to explain behaviours
- considered scientifically= generalised= easier to replicate
Is the behaviourist approach nature or nurture?
Nurture
Nurture
be
X assumes behaviour is learnt from birth onwards
X only see as external to the individual
X does not accept internal, innate nature based causes
X only explores environmental factors
X cannot fully explain all human behaviour
Is the behaviourist approach Scientific or Unscientific?
Scientific
Scientific
be
- uses experimenting
- forming hypothesis- considered to be a scientific approach
- adds credibility to the approach and supports key concepts
