Behavioursit Approach Flashcards
What are the four basic assumptions of the behaviourist approach?
Behaviour is learned from experience and the environment. It is scientific. It is valid to study the behaviour of animals as they share the same principles. We are born with a blank slate
What is classical conditioning?
Learning through association
What did Pavlov research?
The dog salivated upon hearing the bell
Describe classical conditioning with Pavlovs dogs
The UCS was the food and the UCR was that the dog drooled. The NS was the bell and the food which is the UCS work together to create the UCR of the dog drooling. The final stage is the CS which is the bell causes the CR which is the dog drooling
What is operant conditioning?
Learning by consequence
What is positive reinforcement?
A behaviour is more likely to reoccur because of positive consequence eg rewards
What is negative reinforcement?
A behaviour is more likely to reoccur due to avoidance of negative consequence eg removing something unpleasant
What is punishment?
A behaviour is less likely to reoccur because of negative consequences
What researcher researched operant conditioning?
Skinner
What was the method of Skinners study?
He put rats in a puzzle box that contained a response lever which when the rat pressed it, it sent food to the rat. The floor was also metal so that it could give the rat an electric shock
What was the positive reinforcer in Skinners study?
When the rat presses the lever it receives a food pellet increasing the likelihood to press it again
What was the negative reinforcer in Skinners study?
The electric floor comes on the rat jumps up and presses the lever which turns the floor off increasing the likelihood to press the lever again
What is the punishment from Skinners study?
When the rat presses the lever it gets an electric shock decreasing the likelihood to press the lever again
What are two strengths of the behaviourist approach?
It is a scientific approach as the behaviour is observable and therefore measurable. Also it has practical applications as modification strategies are used in prisons
What are two limitations of the behaviourist approach?
It is done mainly with animals so it’s hard to generalise behaviour and it’s too simple
