behaviourist approach

Question 1

Assumptions

Answer 1

└way of explaining behaviour in terms of learning and what is observable
└psychology should be scientific
└e.g. lab experiments
└Watson (1913)

Question 2

Classical conditioning

Answer 2

└learning through association 
└Ivan Pavlov 
  └food (UCS)→salivation (UCR)
  └food (USC) + bell (NS) → salivation (UCR)
  └bell (CS) → salivation (CR)

Question 3

Operant conditioning

Answer 3

└a form of learning shaped and maintained by its consequences
└BF Skinner (1953)
└positive reinforcement
└positive behaviour= reward
└increase likelihood of behaviour being repeated
└negative reinforcement
└positive behaviour= avoid consequence
└increase likelihood of behaviour being repeated
└punishment
└negative behaviour= consequence
└decrease likelihood of behaviour being repeated
└e.g. skinners box

Question 4

Strengths

Answer 4

Scientific credibility
└scientific processes
└e.g. objectivity, replication
└= greater credibility and status

Real life application
└operant conditioning
  └token economy systems
    └in prisons/psych wards
└classical conditioning
  └treating phobias

Question 5

Limitations

Answer 5

Ethical issues- animals
└e.g. skinner box
└animals subjected to stressful conditions
└may have affected how they reacted= invalid results

Environmental determinism
└believe all behaviour is determined by past conditioned experiences
└skinner- free will is just an illusion