Behavoiurist Approach Flashcards
What does the behaviourist approach focus on?
Observable behavior and learning through conditioning
Define operant conditioning.
A form of learning in which behavior is shaped and maintained by its consequences
What is positive reinforcement?
Receiving a reward when a certain behavior is performed
Examples include praise from a teacher or a food pellet for a rat
What is negative reinforcement?
Avoiding something unpleasant, which increases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated
Example includes a rat pressing a lever to avoid an electric shock
What is punishment in the context of the behaviourist approach?
An unpleasant consequence of behavior that decreases the likelihood of that behavior being repeated
Outline the two types of reinforcement.
- Positive reinforcement
- Negative reinforcement
What is classical conditioning?
Learning by association, where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with an unconditioned stimulus
Who conducted the famous experiments demonstrating classical conditioning?
Ivan Pavlov
In Pavlov’s experiment, what was the unconditioned stimulus (UCS)?
Food
In Pavlov’s experiment, what was the conditioned response (CR)?
Salivation in response to the sound of a bell
How does the Skinner box relate to operant conditioning?
It allows for the study of how reinforcement affects behavior through controlled experiments
What is environmental determinism in the behaviourist approach?
The idea that behavior is determined by environmental factors rather than internal processes
True or False: The behaviourist approach considers private mental processes in learning.
False
What is a limitation of the behaviourist approach?
It oversimplifies the learning process by ignoring cognitive processes
Fill in the blank: The __________ approach emerged at the beginning of the 20th century and became the dominant approach in psychology.
Behaviourist
What is the significance of Skinner’s variable ratio schedule?
It prolongs behavior by providing reinforcement after a variable number of responses
What are token economies?
Systems that reward appropriate behavior with tokens exchangeable for privileges
Used in institutions like prisons and psychiatric wards
What is the main criticism of the behaviourist approach?
It neglects the influence of free will and cognitive processes on behavior
Explain the concept of conditioned response using Pavlov’s dogs.
Dogs learned to salivate (conditioned response) when they heard a bell (conditioned stimulus) because it was associated with food (unconditioned stimulus)
List the two main forms of learning identified by Pavlov.
- Classical conditioning
- Operant conditioning
What role does reinforcement play in the behaviourist approach?
It increases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated
