Behaviourist Approach

Question 1

Explain assumption 1 of the behaviourist approach (classical conditioning)

Answer 1

Classical conditioning occurs when an association is made between a previously unlearned response and a neutral stimulus.

E.g. Feeling scared and feeling pain when someone has you it is an unconditioned response. If every time and elvis song is played someone hit you, yo put may then feel scared every time you hear an elvis song making it a conditioned stimulus.

Question 2

Explain the 2nd assumption of the behaviourist approach (operant conditioning)

Answer 2

New behaviours are learnt through reinforcement. Then results in positive or negative consequences.

E.g. Skinner put a rat in a box and he would accidentally press a button which released a food pellet which is rewarding- reinforcement. The behaviour will stop if the animal receives an electric shock instead.

Question 3

What is the behaviourist approaches social learning theory of aggression?

Answer 3

It suggests that individuals can acquire the ability to perform a new behaviour by watching that behaviour be performed by another.

Question 4

What is ARRM within the social learning theory of aggression?

Answer 4

Four processes.
Attention: we notice the behaviour.
Retention: we copy the behaviours we can remember.
Reproduction: we can only copy behaviours we believe we are capable of.
Motivation: we must be motivated to reproduce behaviour.

Question 5

What are Models within the social learning theory of aggression?

Answer 5

The people who are imitated are referred to as models.

Models tend to be; parents, older siblings, celebrities, media characters and same sex friends.

We are more likely to imitate behaviour if the model is similar to the child, powerful or significant in our lives, as well as seen being reinforced/ rewarded.

Question 6

What is vicarious reinforcement ?

Answer 6

Learning from observing others. Only observed the reward/ punishment, not experiencing it ourselves.

Question 7

Explain research evidence into the behaviourists approach (bandura)

Answer 7

Children aged 3-5 years watched an adult play with toys. Each child was taken individually to a room. Half of the children were exposed to. Ideals that were non-aggressive towards the doll. The other half watched adults behave aggressively. Bandura found that children who watched the aggressive adult copied and done the same.

Showing that you can acquire a behaviour by watching.

Question 8

Explain research into the behaviourist approach (bandura and Walters)

Answer 8

They showed a video of an aggressive adult who was rewarded/ punished or neither. The children were more likely to repeat the behaviour of the adults if they were rewarded.

Shows evidence of the importance of vicarious reinforcement.

Question 9

What is the aim of systematic desensitisation?

Answer 9

It is used mainly to treat phobic disorders. It aims to extinguish a phobia by eradicating an undesirable behaviour (fear) and replacing it with a more desirable one (relaxation)

Question 10

How does systematic desensitisation link with the behaviourist approach?

Answer 10

The behaviourists approach assumes that all behaviour is learnt from the environment. Therefore we can unlearn conditioned responses by manipulating the environment.

Question 11

What are the main features of systematic desensitisation?

Answer 11

Step 1: the patient is taught how to relax.
Step 2: the therapist and patient construct a desensitisation hierarchy.
Step 3: the patient works their way through the hierarchy starting with the least fearful stimulus.
Step 4: once the patient has mastered on step they move onto the next.
Step 5: the patient eventually masters the feared situation.

Question 12

Explain vivo and vitro within systematic desensitisation.

Answer 12

Vivo- client has to relax whilst directly experiencing feared stimulus,
E.g. They have to relax whilst a real dog is in the room.

Vitro- the client has to visualise the feared stimulus,
E.g. Imagining the dog is in the room.

Question 13

Explain the research evidence of the behaviourist approach

Answer 13

Capafons et al.
Used systematic desensitisation to treat 41 aerophobics.
21 participants were assigned to a waiting list, the others received SD immediately.
Those who received treatment reported lower fear.
However 2 patients showed no recovery suggesting it is not 100% affective.

Question 14

Name 2 strengths of the behaviourist approach

Answer 14

The scientific approach.

Successful applications

Question 15

Explain strength 1 of the behaviourist approach (scientific)

Answer 15

Explanations can be observed and measured.

E.g. Research can investigate observable behaviours such as the effect of reinforcement on learning (skinner)

This enables us to distinguish mere beliefs from real facts.

Question 16

Explain the second strength of the behaviourist approach (successful applications)

Answer 16

Can be applied to the real world.

E.g. The principles of classical conditioning are applied in systematic desensitisation to help phobias.

Behaviourist explanations have helped us to understand the dynamics behind many every day behaviours.

Question 17

What are 2 weaknesses of the behaviourist approach

Answer 17

Determinist

More relevant to animals than humans

Question 18

Explain weakness 1 of the behaviourist approach (determinist)

Answer 18

Behaviourist suggests that our behaviour has been caused by associations, reinforcements and punishments, rather than by any personal decision making.

E.g. The reason you do not shop lift according to behaviourists is becsue you would be punished not because you think it’s wrong.

The view undermines the sense of choice or free will. It also means that people have no personal or moral responsibility for their behaviour.

Question 19

Explain weakness 2 of the behaviourist approach (animals)

Answer 19

The origins of the behaviourist theory lie in Pavlovs work on classical conditioning in dogs and skinners work on operant conditioning in pigeons and rats.

This means that principles of behaviourism only apply to a limited extent of human behaviours.

Question 20

What methodology is used by the behaviourist approach

Answer 20

Lab experiment

Use of animals in research

Question 21

Explain method 1 of the behaviourist approach (lab)

Answer 21

Bandura 
Strengths: 
Extraneous variables can be carefully controlled 
Can be replicated- high reliability. 
Weaknesses: 
low ecological validity 
Demand characteristics.

Question 22

Explain method 2 of the behaviourist approach (animals)

Answer 22

Pavlov/ Skinner
Strengths:
Animals are not subject to demand characteristics
Extraneous variables can be eradicated. 
Weaknesses: 
Cannot generalise
Ethical issues- cannot consent.

Question 23

Name 2 assumptions of the behaviourist approach

Answer 23

Behaviour can be explained in terms of classical conditioning
Behaviour can be explained in terms of operant conditioning