Behaviourist Approach Flashcards
What are the assumptions of the behaviourist approach?
- Only interested in studying behaviour that can be observed and measured
- Interested in the environment and its effect on us
- Watson rejected introspection
- Involved vague concepts difficult to measure
- Maintain more control and objectivity - lab experiments
- Processes that govern learning are all in the same species
- Animals can be used as experimental subjects
What are the two forms of learning?
Classical conditioning and operant conditioning
What is classical conditioning?
Learning through association
What are the two things which classical conditioning involves?
A stimulus and response
When does classical conditioning occur?
When two stimuli are repeatedly paired together
What does a neutral stimulus eventually produce?
Same responses first produced by unlearned stimulus
What does Ivan Pavlov find out?
That dogs could be conditioned to salivate to the sound of a bell
What did Pavloc’s dogs learn to associate to the sound of a bell?
Food
What does pavlovs dogs show?
How a neutral stimulus can elicit a new learned response through association
What did Skinner say about learning?
It is an active process
How do humans and animals learn?
As a result of consequences of their actions
What are the three types of consequences of behaviour?
- Positive reinforcement
- Negative reinforcement
- Punishment
What is positive reinforcement?
- receiving a reward when a certain behaviour is performed which increases the likelihood that a behaviour will be performed again
What is negative reinforcement?
Occurs when an animal or human avoids something unpleasant which increases the likelihood that this behaviour will be performed again
What is punishment?
An unpleasant consequence of a behaviour which decreases the likelihood that the behaviour will be performed agai
What is the 1st position that skinners rats were in?
If rat pressed the lever it would be rewarded with food and the rat would continue the behaviour
What was the 2nd condition in which the rat was in in skinners rats?
The floor was electrified and if the rat pressed an electric button the shock stops and the rat continues to perform this behaviour
What is the 3rd condition in which sinners rats were in?
If the rat presses the button it gets an electric shock and the rat stops this behaviour
Scientific credibility
Focuses on measurable behaviour in highly controlled lab settings
Real life application
Principles have been applied to the real world:
Token economy systems in prisons and psychiatric wards
Environmental determinism
All behaviour is determined by past experiences that have been conditioned
Ethical and practical issues for animals
Unethical for animals
What is a difference between classical and operant condition?
Classical conditioning is involuntary whereas operant conditioning is voluntary
