Behaviourist approach

Question 1

Behaviourist approach

Answer 1

Understanding behaviour that focuses on environmental stimuli upon observable responses

Question 2

basic assumptions

Answer 2

behaviour is learned from experience
only observable behaviour can be measured scientifically
valid to study behaviour of animals as they share the same principles of learning
blank slate at birth no genetic involvement

Question 3

classical conditioning

Answer 3

Pavlov 1849-1936
learning based on association
food = unconditioned stimulus dog has reflex action of salivation to this
dog has no response to the bell = neutral stimulus
during conditioning the dog associates the bell with the food
then the bell is the conditioned stimulus and the salivation is the conditioned response
dog would salivate even if no food was present.

Question 4

stimulus generalisation

Answer 4

when a stimulus becomes generalised to other related stimuli which are also associated with the conditioned response e.g. dog would react the same to the bell even in pitch and tone was changed, and little albert was scared of the og rat and also other small furry animals and white fluffy objects

Question 5

stimulus discrimination

Answer 5

when a stimulus is not associated with the conditioned response as it is too different from the original stimulus
e.g. little albert he would not associate large brown dogs with fear as they were different enough from the rat despite being a fluffy animal

Question 6

Time contiguity

Answer 6

association only occurs if the ucs and ns are present at the same time or around the same time, if the interval between presentation is too great no association will occur

Question 7

operant conditioning

Answer 7

learning by consequence, based on reinforcement or punishment
skinners box has a lever that will release a pellet of food
and a metal plate on the floor, actions to avoid the shocks would then be reinforced, an example of negative punishment
getting food whenever the lever is pressed is continuous reinforcement

Question 8

positive

Answer 8

add something

Question 9

negative

Answer 9

take something away

Question 10

reinforcement

Answer 10

increase likelihood of behaviour being repeated

Question 11

punishment

Answer 11

increase likelihood of not repeating behaviour

Question 12

evaluation

Answer 12

scientific methods used = credibility
nurture rather than nature
used to help change bad behaviour and reinforce good behaviour
do not consider influence of thought and cognitive process
deterministic we don’t have control over our own behaviour, ramifications for legislation are peoo0ple in control when they commit crimes
spontaneous behaviour cant be explained
animals may not be able to be applied to people