Behaviourist Approach

Question 1

How was classical conditioning investigated by Pavlov?

Answer 1

-Revealed that dogs could be conditioned to salivate to the sound of a bell if that sound was repeatedly played at the time they were given food
-Gradually, they learnt to associate the sound of the bell (NS) with food (US) and would produce the salivation response when they heard the sound
-A neutral stimulus can come to elicit a conditioned response through classical conditioning

Question 2

How was operant conditioning investiagted by Skinner?

Answer 2

-Skinner (1948) studied operant conditioning by conducting experiments using animals which he placed in a ‘Skinner Box’ which was similar to Thorndike’s puzzle box.
-A Skinner box is a device used to objectively record an animal’s behaviour in a compressed time frame.
- An animal can be rewarded or punished for engaging
in certain behaviours, such as lever pressing (for rats) or key pecking (for pigeons).

Question 3

What are 2 strengths of the behaviourist approach?

Answer 3

Measuring Methods - The behaviourist approach uses objective scientific methods which includes a systematic manipulation of variables + tight control over the standardised procedure and extraneous variables, which yields empirical, quantitative data

Research Support - Research supports the view that animals and humans can learn by Classical and Operant Conditioning.
-John Watson’s original study of Little Albert demonstrated that
a phobia can be learnt through CC of a white rabbit and a loud
bang.

Question 4

What is 1 strength and 2 limitations of Social Learning Theory?

Answer 4

Positive: Experimental Research - Bandura’s experiment has found empirical evidence to support the notion that children learn
behaviour and in particular aggressive behaviour through the observation and imitation of role models.

Difficulty demonstrating cause and effect - although Bandura research controlled variables and demonstrated behaviour was imitated it is difficult to show cause and effect in real life

sees behaviour as environmentally determined whereas some behaviours may be innate

Question 5

What is Vicarious reinforcement?

Answer 5

• for indirect learning to take place an individual observes
  the behaviour of others.
  -The learner may imitate this behaviour but only occurs if the behaviour is seen to be rewarded (reinforced) rather than punished,

Question 6

Describe the mediational processes:

Answer 6

Attention - the extent to which we notice certain behaviours.
Retention - how well the behaviour is remembered.
Reproduction - the ability of the observer to perform the behaviour. Motivation - the will to perform the behaviour, which is determined by whether the behaviour was rewarded or punished.

Question 7

What is positive and negative reinforcement?

Answer 7

P - the process of encouraging or establishing a pattern of behaviour
by offering reward when the behaviour is exhibited.

N - something uncomfortable or otherwise unpleasant is taken
away in response to a stimulus

Question 8

What is modelling?

Answer 8

• imitating the behaviour of people with whom they identify, called role models, particularly the same sex role models.
• A person becomes a role model if they are seen to possess
  similar characteristics to the observer and/or are attractive and have high status to the individual.