behaviourist approach Flashcards
what does the behaviourist approach argue?
● all our behaviour is learnt
● as babies we are born a blank state and it is our environment that shapes our behaviour
what behaviour are behaviourists only concerned with studying?
● observable behaviour
● rely on lab experiments
what 2 assumptions does the behaviourist approach have?
● classical conditioning
● operant conditioning
what is classical conditioning?
● where behaviour is learnt via association
● connection is formed between an unconditioned stimulus and neutral stimulus, producing a response
explain pavlov’s research
● before conditioning: food (unconditioned stimulus) caused dogs to salivate (unconditioned response)
● before conditioned: pavlov rang a bell (neutral stimulus) - no response from dog
● during conditioning: pavlov rang bell (neutral stimulus) with presence of food (unconditioned stimulus) which caused dog to salivate (from food - unconditioned response)
● after conditioning: repeated pairings of food (unconditioned stimulus) and bell resulted in bell becoming a conditioned stimulus - sound of bell causes dogs to salivate (conditioned response)
what are the strengths of using animals in studies?
● more ethical than testing on humans
● no issue of demand characteristics, therefore, more control over extraneous variables
● behaviourists would believe that learning process in animals like rats is similar to humans
what are the limitations of using animals in studies?
● can still be seen as unethical - harmful to animal
● animals do act differently to humans. so, difficult to generalise findings from animal experiments to human behaviour. biology, experiences and capabilities vary from species
what is the little albert study?
● before conditioning: sound of a hammer hitting steel bar (unconditioned stimulus) causes fear and anxiety (unconditioned response) in boy
white rat (neutral stimulus) causes no fear and anxiety (no response)
● during conditioning: sound of hammer a steel bar (unconditioned stimulus) and white rat (neutral stimulus) causes fear and anxiety (unconditioned response) in boy
● after conditioning: after repeated pairings, white rat (conditioned stimulus) causes fear and anxiety (conditioned response)
what is operant conditioning?
form of learning which behaviour is shaped and maintained by its consequences
what is positive reinforcement?
● involves receiving positive consequence for your behaviour (reward)
● increases likelihood behaviour will be repeated
what is negative reinforcement?
● involves carrying out behaviour which avoids something unpleasant
● increases likelihood that behaviour will be repeated
what is punishment?
● involves receiving negative consequence for behaviour
● decreases likelihood that behaviour will be repeated
explain skinner’s research
● when rat activated lever, rewarded with food pellet, meaning rat more likely to continue pressing lever (positive reinforcement)
● also, if pressing lever meant animal avoided electric shock, behaviour would also be repeated (negative reinforcement)
