behaviourist approach 1910s Flashcards
who looked into classical conditioning
pavlov
classical conditioning
paring of NS with UCS so NS becomes CS capable of eliciting a CR
NS + UCS = UCR
who studied operant conditioning
skinner
main rules of operant conditioning
likelihood of repeating behaviour depends on its consequence
- learning through the result of consequences
positive and negative reinforcement increases the likelihood of a behaviour occurring
assumption 1
we are a blank slate at birth, a persons direct experience is what shapes our behaviour
assumption 2
basic processes that govern learning are the same in all animals
assumption 3
only interested in empirical methods which can be observed and measured
pavlov aim
investigate the effect of pairing a bell with food on the volume of saliva produced
pavlov findings
the dogs learned to associate the bell (NS) with the food (UCS), overtime the presence of just the bell (CS) produced saliva (CR)
positive reinforcement
receiving a pleasant consequence when a certain behaviour is performed
negative reinforcement
a behaviour is performed to avoid an unpleasant consequence
skinner aim
investigate the effect of food on the time between pushing the leaver
skinner findings
the reward of food - positive reinforcement - led to the rats pressing on the lever repeatedly in a shorter period of time
operant conditioning in skinner’s research
negative - electrification of the floor was removed when the rats pressed on the lever
punishment - rats electrocuted if pressed wrong lever
positive - rats receive food when lever pressed
ethical issues
rats were housed in harsh, cramped conditions and deliberately kept below natural weight so they would always be hungry for the experiment