Behaviourist approach Flashcards
What is behaviourist approach
All behaviours are learned through interactions with the environment
What does the behaviourist approach focus on
Only on human behaviour that is observable
What did Watson criticise
Introspection- as its to vague and hard to measure
Why can behaviourist use animals to experiment
Following Darwin’s theory behaviourist believed learning process between animals and humans is the same
What are 2 forms of learning + behaviourist in charge
Pavlov- classical conditioning
Skinner- Operant conditioning
What is classical conditioning
Learning through association
What was Pavlov’s research
dogs can be conditioned to salivate at the sound of a bell
He was able to show how a neutral stimulus (bell) can come to elicit a conditioned response through association
What was Skinners research
Three types of consequences that shape us
Positive reinforcement- receiving reward for a certain behaviour
Negative reinforcement- human avoids something unpleasant
Punishment- unpleasant consequence of behaviour
What is operant conditioning
behaviour that’s shaped by consequences
Difference between negative reinforcement and punishment
negative reinforcement- increases likelihood of behaviour being repeated while punishment decreases likelihood
Strengths of behaviourism
scientific credibility
real life application
Positives of scientific credibility
Influential in the development of psychology as a scientific principal
highly controlled lab exp= reliable + replicable
Example of real life application
dog training
Psych wards/ prisons
Limitation of behaviourism
Ethical issue
environmental determinism
Ethical issue with behaviourist approach
Skinner box- animals placed in stressful situation
