Behaviourist approach Flashcards
What does conditioning mean ?
Learning
How is behaviour learnt ?
We learn behaviour through association. When we learn that two things happen together, we associate them with one another.
Describe Pavlov’s experiment into classical conditioning
Pavlov researched the salivation reflex in dogs when being fed. Finding that dogs started to salivate before they were fed, eg when the door was opening, hearing the feeders footsteps.
What is generalisation in classical conditioning ?
Generalisation is when a similar stimuli to the original conditioned stimulus produces the conditioned response.
What is discrimination in classical conditioning ?
This is when a similar stimuli to the original conditioned stimulus does not produce the conditioned response because it is too different.
Give a brief description of the Little Albert experiment.
The experiment was carried out to conclude as to whether fear is a conditioned response. The experimenter presented ‘Albert’ with a set of animals. Once he was familiar to the animals, a loud noise was produced at the same time as he was being presented with the animals. The loud noise then conditioned a fear response as ‘Albert’ associated the loud noise with the animals which caused him to fear them.
What did Pavlov contribute and how ?
He demonstrated the importance of learning by association in his conditioning experiments - salivation in dogs. This experiment showed learning could be investigated experimentally and using non-human participants.
What did Pavlov contribute and how ? (2)
He provided theories of learning and laws of learning- classical conditioning. He also provided therapies for the treatment of disorders such as phobias and addictions (aversion therapies and flooding).
Describe operant conditioning
Operant conditioning focuses on the behaviour the animal/human makes and the consequence of that behaviour. The consequence is important - it shapes whether the behaviour will be repeated. We learn through rewards and reinforcement (positive, negative and punishment).
What is positive reinforcement and what is the effect on behaviour ?
Positive reinforcement involves presenting something the organism likes, this therefore strengthens the behaviour.
What is negative reinforcement and what is the effect on behaviour ?
Negative reinforcement involves removing something the organism doesn’t like, this therefore strengthens the behaviour.
What is punishment and what is the effect on behaviour ?
Punishment involves presenting something the organism doesn’t like, this therefore weakens the behaviour.
Strengths of the Behaviourist learning theory
Empirical scientific methods- the scientific methods used led to a raised status of psychology. Both OC and CC focuses on observable behaviour. Replication of research has led to the development of laws and principles. This enables the prediction and control of behaviour and how to apply these to human behaviour.
Strengths of the Behaviourist learning theory (2)
Real-life applications- Therapeutic techniques in SD, flooding and aversion therapy has been successful in eliminating maladaptive behaviours in real life. This approach has been used in prisons, psychiatric wards and schools through token economies.
Allyon and Azrin - token economies
They found that positive reinforcement led to an increase in certain behaviours among psychiatric patients. They made a list of behaviours they wanted then the patients were given a token every time they carried out that behaviour. Therefore highlights the impact of reinforcement in behaviour.
