Behaviourist Approach

Question 1

Assumptions of the behaviourist approach

Answer 1

All behaviour is learned from experience and therefore can be changed
Only measurable and observable behaviour should be considered
It is useful to study animals to understand behaviour as the same processes produces learning for both humans and other animals

Question 2

What is classical conditioning

Answer 2

Learning through association

Question 3

Classical conditioning study

Answer 3

Pavlov’s dog:
Before conditioning- food is an unconditioned stimulus, salvation is the unconditioned response
The bell is a neutral stimulus which cause the the dog to have a no conditioned response so no salvation. During conditioning the bell rings while the food is given to the dog which causes the dog to salivate which is an unconditioned response. After conditioning the bell becomes a conditioned stimulus and the conditioned response is the dog salivating

Question 4

What is operant conditioning

Answer 4

Learning by consequence

Question 5

What is positive reinforcement

Answer 5

You gain something rewarding as the result of our behaviour

Question 6

What is negative reinforcement

Answer 6

Is still going to increase the likelihood of you repeating a behaviour as it is reinforcement however, it is negative as the consequence of you’re behaviour takes away something unpleasant

Question 7

Research study: skinners box

Answer 7

Positive reinforcement- every time the rat activated a lever within the box it was rewarded with a food pellet. Rat is positively reinforced for pressing the lever so this behaviour is likely to be repeated
Negative reinforcement- skinner showed how rats could be conditioned to perform the same behaviour to avoid an unpleasant stimulus, an electric shock. The rat was electrocuted through the use of an electric grid in the box, when the rat pressed the lever the electric shocks stopped

Question 8

A strength of the behaviourist approach

Answer 8

It has practical applications- systematic desensitisation is effective in treating phobias and is structured from the principles of classical conditioning. Token economy uses the principle of operant conditioning and is used in institutions to encourage certain behaviours

Scientific methodology- free from researcher bias, controlled laboratory research