behaviourist approach

Question 1

what is classical conditioning

Answer 1

classical conditioning refers to learning through association. the idea is that earning occurs when an association is made between a previously neutral stimulus and reflex response

Question 2

what are the assumptions of the behaviourist approach

Answer 2

• behaviour is learnt from experience
• only observable behaviour is measurable scientifically
• psychologists should use lab experiments as it is the best way to maintain objectivity
• the basic processes that govern learning are the same in all species

Question 3

discuss pavlovs research

Answer 3

when shown food (the UCS) the dogs salivated (the UCR), when hearing the sound of a bell (NS) the dogs had no response. when he repeatedly rung the bell whilst presenting food to the dogs, they eventually began to salivate at the sound of the bell because they associated it with food, so the bell became the CS and salivation became the CR

Question 4

evaluate pavlov

Answer 4

(+) used the experimental method- used controlled conditions to discover a possible relationship between the IV and the DV, so he could establish cause and effect

(-) used non human animals- can’t extrapolate the findings

(-) can be considered unethical- performed surgery on the dogs saliva glands before carrying out the experiment and during the experiment the dogs were strapped into harnesses and kept in the same place for hours at a time

Question 5

what is operant conditioning

Answer 5

operant conditioning refers to learning through consequences, and there are four types of reinforcement. positive reinforcement is receiving a reward when a certain behaviour is performed to encourage it to continue. negative reinforcement occurs when the individual is rewarded by avoiding something unpleasant to encourage it to continue. punishment refers to an unpleasant consequence of behaviour- behaviour is less likely to occur if it results in negative consequences. extinction occurs when a behaviour is weakened as a result of not experiencing reinforcement.

Question 6

what is a strength of the behaviourist approach (scientific)

Answer 6

uses the scientific method when investigating human behaviour and the assumptions are based on strong empirical evidence. behaviourist psychologists believe that only observable behaviour should be studied and therefore use experiments as their main method of investigation, providing researchers with a rigorous method for understanding the effects of operant and classical conditioning on behaviour, which is a strength as the assumptions of the approach are based on research that establishes cause and effect so is likely to be reliable.

Question 7

what is a strength of the behaviourist approach (evidence)

Answer 7

supported by skinner and pavlov

Question 8

what is a limitation of the behaviourist approach (nurture)

Answer 8

over simplistic as it favours the nurture side. behavioural psychologists believe that behaviour is learnt through classical and operant conditioning so therefore ignore the evidence that suggests biological factors also contribute. this is a limitation as it takes a one sided view of human behaviour and doesn’t provide a holistic explanation

Question 9

what is a limitation of the behaviourist approach ( determinism)

Answer 9

favours the determinism side of the free will vs determinism debate. behavioural psychologists believe that human behaviour is a product of external influences and individuals cannot be held responsible for their own behaviour. skinner argued that free will was merely an illusion. this is a limitation as many psychologists would disagree

Question 10

evaluate overall behaviourist approach

Answer 10

supporting evidence, scientific method, favours nurture side, deterministic