Behaviourist Approach

Question 1

What are the main assumptions of the behaviourist approach?

Answer 1

• focus on observable and measurable behaviour
  -rely on lab studies
  -animals can replace humans in experiments

Question 2

What is classical conditioning, who studied it?

Answer 2

Classical conditioning is learning through association, Ivan Pavlov studied this with dogs in 1951.

Question 3

What is Operant Conditioning, and who studied it?

Answer 3

Operant conditioning is learning through reinforcement and consequences. B.F Skinner studied this in the 1940s

Question 4

Negative Reinforcement

Answer 4

The removal of a negative action to gain a positive outcome. This increases the chances of the behaviour being repeated.

Question 5

Positive reinforcement

Answer 5

Rewarding a certain behaviour preformed (good) , this increases the chances of the behaviour being repeated.

Question 6

Punishment

Answer 6

A negative consequence of behaviour, decreases the chances of the behaviour being repeated.

Question 7

What is 1 strength of the behaviourist approach?

Answer 7

(P) behaviourist approach has real life applications
(E) operant conditioning has formed the basis for many token economies used in institutions such as psych wards and prisons. Positive behaviour is rewarded with a token which can be exchanged for privileges.
(E) provides practical methods for shaping behaviour.
(L) has helped to benefit everyday lives.

Question 8

What is a 2nd strength of the behaviourist approach?

Answer 8

(P) The research supporting this approach is well controlled.
(E) Pavlov and skinner focused on measurable and observable behaviour in the controlled artificial setting of a lab.
(E) all extraneous variable were able to be controlled which allows for a clear cause and effect relationship to be established.
(L) therefore the behaviourist approach has scientific credibility and its supporting research has high internal validity.

Question 9

What is 1 criticism of the behaviourist approach?

Answer 9

(P) simplifies complex human behaviour.
(E)behaviourism ignores internal mental processes roles in shaping our behaviour such as thoughts and emotions.
(E) therefore this approach fails to account for the complexity of individual experiences and provides us with an incomplete understanding of behaviour.
(L) it is essential to consider cognitive factors as well as emotional factors in determining human behaviour.