Behaviourist approach (Learning) Flashcards
What is the learning approach?
focuses on how we are product of our experience( learning). all human behaviour is learnt and we are born blank slates
Incorporate both behaviourism and social learning theory
What are the assumptions of the behaviour approach?
- behaviour is learned by experience there is no genetic influence
- Only observable behaviour is measured scientifically I’d only these behaviour should be studied
- Lab experiments is the best way to maintain objectivity
- Basic processes that co learning are the same in all species so it is valid to study the behaviour of animals as they share the same principles of learning as humans
What is classical conditioning?
Learning by association
neutral stimulus is paired with an unconditional stimulus and they become associated and become a condition stimulus. This causes a conditioned response
outline how Pavlovdemonstrated classical conditioning in dogs
- Dogs automatically salivate when presented with food as a reflex response (no learning required)
- Food is the unconditional stimulus and salvation is the unconditional response
- He conditioned dogs to salvateto the sound of a bell
- He repeatedly presented foods to dogs was at the same time. Ring a bell eventually they salvated to sound of the the bell
- neutral stimulus (bell) paired with unconditional stimulus (food) become associated and become a condition stimulus. This causes a conditioned response (salvation)
what is a strengths of Pavlov’s research?
Used experimental method
What are limitations of Pavlov’s research?
used animals
Not ethical
Evaluate the use of the experimental method as a strength of Pavlov’s research
- used the experimental method
- used controlled conditions as dogs were harnessed in the lab to discover a causal relationship between IV & DV. By manipulating the unconditioned/neutral stimuli he was able to accurately measure the effect on the amount the dog salivated.
- Strength as it allows him to establish cause and effect between stimulus and response
Evaluate the use of animals as a limitation of Psvlovs resaerch
- studied non-human animals
- Using dogs cannot reveal a great deal about human behaviour. Unlike animals human have free will and their behaviour is not purely determined by the association between stimuli and response
- Limitation as his conclusions might not be valid to all human behaviour as findings cannot be extrapolated
Evaluate ethics as a limitation of Pavlov’s research
- unethical
- Pavlov performed surgery on the dogs saliva glands so salvation was easy to measure and during the experiment dogs were strapped in harnesses so they were kept in the same place for hours at a time
- Limitation because even though BP guidelines don’t apply to animals some argue that animals have rights and shouldn’t be used in such experiments especially if findings aren’t representative
However, some believe that the research is acceptable as it wouldn’t be ethical to study this on humans
What is operant conditioning?
Learning by consequences (reinforcement)
Reinforcement means something in the environment that strengthens a behaviour and makes it more likely to occur
What is positive reinforcement?
receiving a reward when a certain behaviour is performed making it more likely to re-occur
What is negative reinforcement?
being rewarded by avoiding something unpleasant
(avoiding negative consequences)
What is a punishment?
An unpleasant consequence of a behaviour behaviour is less likely to occur if it results in negative consequences
What is a negative punishment?
Removal of a desirable stimulus after a behaviour occurs decreases the likelihood of that behaviour happening again
e.g break curfew > phone taken
outline how skinner showed positive reinforcement
- placed a hungry rat in his skinner box
- There was a leather on the side when the rat would accidentally knock it a food pillow would drop into a container acting as a positive reinforcement
- Rats learn to go straight to the liver after a few times of being put in the box
- They were conditioned to engaged in a unnatural (learned) behaviour of pushing a lever
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Outline how Skinner showed negative reinforcement in rats
- please write inbox subjecting it to an unpleasant electric current
- As rat moved around, it would accidentally knock the lever causing the current to switch off acting as a negative reinforcement rights quickly learn to go straight to the lever
- Scanner also writes to avoid the current by turning on the light before the current came on
- Rats learn to press the lever when the light came on
Outline house skinner demonstrated punishment in rats
once the rat had been taught to press the lever skinner stopped this by electrifying the floor each time the lever was pressed
What is a positive punishment?
presenting an undesirable stimulus after a behaviour occurs decreasing the likelihood of it happening again
e.g misbehave = Scolded
what are strengths of Skinners research?
Used experimental method
What are limitations of skinners research?
studied animals
Unethical
Evaluate use of the experimental method as a strength of Skinners research
- uses experimental method
- user controlled conditions to discover possible causal relationships between two or more variables by manipulating the consequences of behaviour he was able to accurately measure the effect on the rate behavior
- strength as is allowed him to establish cause and effect between consequences of behaviour and the future frequency of its occurrence
Evaluate studying animals as a limitation of skinners research
- studied non-human animals
- His reliance on rats/pigeons mean that his studies revealed little about human behaviour. Unlike animals humans have a free will and their behaviour isn’t determined by positive and negative reinforcement in the same way.
- Limitation as skinners research may not provide a valid explanation for all human behaviour. However skinner argued that Freewill is an illusion and all behaviour is the product of external influences so testing animals is a valid weight to investigate human behaviour
Evaluate ethics as a limitation of skinners research
- unethical
- Scanner kept animals in small cages and subjected them to a range of different tests some which would’ve caused them pain and anxiety
- Limitation because even though BP guidelines don’t apply to animals some argue that animals have rights and shouldn’t be used in such experiments especially if findings may not be representative.
Evaluate practical applications as a strength of the behaviourist approaches
- practical applications as it produced successful treatment with phobias and patients in institutions
- Classical conditioning development of systematic desensitisation which works by eliminating the learned anxious response (CR) that is associated with a fear object (CS)
Opera condition has lettered the use of a token economy system within an institution to reward appropriate behaviour with tokens that are exchanged for privileges - These treatments have been found to be effective for a range of conditions and demonstrate the contribution that the behaviourist approach has made to psychology, as treatments are based on assumptions of their approach so it must be valid
Evaluate supported by evidence as a strength of the behaviourist approach
- supported by evidence
- Skinner demonstrated how positive/negative reinforcement and condition rats he rewarded the rat each time it pressed a lever and encouraged it to repeat his behaviour. He also conditioned a rat press a lever to avoid punishment of electrocution.
Also Pavlov classical condition dogs to salvate to the sound of a bell by ringing a bell each time he fed the dog
- This is a strength as this research suggest that the behaviourist approach providing accurate explanation of behaviour
what are strengths of the behaviourist approach?
Practical applications
Supported by evidence
Uses the scientific method
evaluate the use of the scientific method as a strength of the behavioural approach
- use his scientific method and assumptions are based on strong empirical evidence
- psychologist believe that only observable behaviour should be studied and therefore use experiments as their main method of investigation. This provides researchers with a rigourous method for understanding the effect of operant/classical conditioning on behaviour
- Strength as the assumptions of the approach are based on research that establishes cause an effect and is likely to be objective and reliable
What are limitations of the behavioural approach?
- Oversimplistic (favours nurture)
- Deterministic
What is a primary reinforcer?
Directly rewarding
What is a secondary reinforcer?
LEADS to a primary reinforcer
e.g loyalty card
evaluate over simplicity (favouring nurture) as a limitation of the behavioural approach
- Oversimplistic and favours the nurture side of the nature vs nurture debate
- Behavioural psychologist believe that behaviour is learned through classical and operant conditioning and they therefore ignore evidence that suggests that biological factors also contribute
- Limitation as it takes a very one-sided view of human behaviour and does not provide a holistic explanation ignores evidence to suggest that behaviour is caused by nature
Evaluate determinism as a limitation of the behavioural approach
- supposed to determinism side of free will VS
determinism - psychologist claim that human behaviour is the product of external influences and as the individual can’t control these processes they can’t be held responsible for the wrong behaviour skinner argued that Freewill was an illusion and he believed human behaviour is caused by factors outside of the individuals control
- Limitation as many psychologist would disagree and believe that humans have free world to choose how to behave
