Behaviours approach

Question 1

key assumptions

Answer 1

• behaviour is learned from experience
• only observable behaviour is measurable scientifically and should be studied i.e stimulus and responses
• we are born a blank state ( ‘tabula rasa - John Locke) (1689), there is no genetic influence on behaviour.
• the same laws apply to human and non human animal behaviour, it is therefore valid to study the behaviour of animals as they share the same principles of learning

Question 2

define classical conditioning

Answer 2

assumes that learning occurs through association

Question 3

define unconditioned stimulus

Answer 3

something that produces a natural response

Question 4

define unconditioned response

Answer 4

the natural response to the UCS

Question 5

define neutral stimulus

Answer 5

a stimulus which does not elicit response on its own

Question 6

define conditioned stimulus

Answer 6

a stimulus that produces a reflexive response (previously the NS,) but in the absence of the UCS

Question 7

define conditioned response

Answer 7

the response produced by the CS

Question 8

what was the UCS in pavlovs experiment?

Answer 8

the dogs food

Question 9

what was the UCR in pavlovs experiment?

Answer 9

the dog drooling

Question 10

what was the NR in pavlovs experiment?

Answer 10

the ringing bell

Question 11

what happens when the NR and the UCS mix?

Answer 11

the dog associates them together and created a conditioned response

Question 12

what is the conditioned stimulus in pavlovs experiment?

Answer 12

the bell

Question 13

what is the conditioned response in pavlovs experiment?

Answer 13

the dog drooling from the sound of bell

Question 14

what was pavlov originally investigating?

Answer 14

the salivary reflex in the dogs

Question 15

stages of pavlovs study

Answer 15

1) he inserted a small test tube into the cheek of each dog to measure saliva when the dogs were fed
2) in his experiment, pavlov used a metronome as his neutral stimulus. By itself the metronome (NS) did not elicit a response from the dogs.
3) Next, Pavlov began the conditioning procedure, whereby clicking the metronome (NS) was introduced just before he gave food (UCS) to his dogs.
4) After a number of repeats (trials) of this procedure (i.e presenting the food and ticking the metronome at the same time), he presented the metronome on its own.

Question 16

what is stimulus generalisation ( pavlovs research)?

Answer 16

once an animal has been conditioned, then they will also respond to the other stimuli to the CS. e.g a bell with different pitch/tone

Question 17

describe timing (NC and UCS association)

Answer 17

if the NS occurs after the UCS or the time internal between the two is too great, then conditioning does not take place .

Question 18

what is time contiguity?

Answer 18

when the NS and UCS are presented at the same time, or around the same time.

Question 19

what is extinction in relation to experiments?

Answer 19

after a few presentations of the CS in the absence of the UCS, it loses its ability to produce the CR

Question 20

spontaneous revery in relation to experiments

Answer 20

following extinction, if the CS and the UCS are then pained together once again, the link between them is made much more quickly.

Question 21

what does this research from pavlovs experiment tell us about how behaviour may be required?

Answer 21

Pavlov was able to show how a neutral stimulus (bell, metronome) can come to elicit a new learned response (conditioned response) through association.

Question 22

define operant conditioning

Answer 22

assumes that learning occurs through consequences

Question 23

define reinforcement

Answer 23

a consequence that means a behaviour is more likely to be repeated in future. The response is therefore strengthened.

Question 24

define primary reinforcer

Answer 24

when a reward strengthens a behaviour by itself. They are a biological e.g food, drink and pleasure.

Question 25

define secondary reinforcer

Answer 25

when something strengthens a behaviour because it heads to a primary reinforcer. Examples include: money, grades in schools, stickers, which all result in feelings of pleasure.

Question 26

define positive reinforcement

Answer 26

a positive consequence in the form of a reward (addition of positive stimulus)

Question 27

negative reinforcement

Answer 27

removal of a negative/ aversive stimulus

Question 28

what was the positive reinforcement in Skinners study?

Answer 28

when the rat pressed the leaver it prompted the release of a food pellet (reward) into the box for the rat to eat
- the rat then repeated this behaviour i.e the action of pressing the leaver

Question 29

what was the negative reinforcement in Skinner study?

Answer 29

the floor was capable of administering an electric shock (this was the punishment). The rat would then press the leaver which removed the electric shock and the rat continued to do this and when he pressed the leaver he realised it removed the negative stimuli.

Question 30

what is meant by schedules of reinforcement?

Answer 30

a tactic that influences how an operant response is learned and maintained
- they are rules that are used to present reinforces following a specified operant behaviour

Question 31

define continuous reinforcement

Answer 31

the behavioural response is reinforced every time that it occurs, e.g food pellet dispensed every time the rat presses the leaver

Question 32

define partial reinforcement

Answer 32

the behaviour is only sometimes reinforced

Question 33

what four points would you use for a 16 marker?

Answer 33

1) skinners negative/positive reinforcement with rat and food pellets operant conditioning
2) pavlov theory classical conditioning
3) behaviours rely oh mostly animals
4) the approach is reductionist and environmentally deterministic.