Introduction to the Science of Behaviour

Question 1

Definition of the biopsychosocial model

Answer 1

How biology, psychology and social factors influence how we maintain health, prevent and manage illness

Question 2

Definition of the Dual Pathway Model

Answer 2

2 broad ways in which psychological processes may influence physical health

Question 3

Definition of an unconditioned stimulus

Answer 3

Environmental stimulus that promotes an innate response

Question 4

Definition of an unconditioned response

Answer 4

An innate response

Question 5

Definition of a conditioned stimulus

Answer 5

A stimulus that is initially presented simultaneously with the unconditioned stimulus to subsequently provoke an innate response when presented alone

Question 6

Definition of a conditioned response

Answer 6

Innate response activated by a conditioned stimulus

Question 7

Definition of habituation

Answer 7

When the conditioned stimuli continuously presented without the unconditioned stimulus
Leads to a loss of conditioned response

Question 8

Definition of flooding

Answer 8

Exposure to feared stimulus => provokes response

Patient has to use relaxation techniques to calm themselves down and lose their response to the feared stimulus

Question 9

Definition of systematic desensitisation

Answer 9

Gradually increase the intensity of the feared stimulus

Aims to lose fear towards stimulus

Question 10

Definition of operant conditioning

Answer 10

Behaviours acquired through the learning process of reinforcement and punishment

Question 11

Definition of Social Learning Modelling

Answer 11

Behaviours learnt by observing significant others carry them out

Question 12

Describe the biopsychosocial model

How does it link to behavioural medicine

Answer 12

Bio

• virus
• bacteria

Psycho

• behaviour
• beliefs
• stress
• pain

Social

• class
• employment
• ethinicity

Studies factors that influence how we

• maintain health
• prevent illness
• manage illness

Question 13

What is the link between psychology and health

Describe the Dual Pathway Model

Answer 13

2 broad ways in which psychological processes may influence physical health

Psychological processes =psychoneuroimmunology=> physical health

Psychological processes => behaviour => physical health

Question 14

Describe Pavlov’s dog experiment

• Before conditioning
• Conditioning
• After conditioning

Answer 14

Before conditioning (2 different responses)

• Food => salivation (unconditioned stimulus => unconditioned response)
• Whistle => no conditioned response (neutral stimulus => no conditioned response)

Conditioning
-Food + whistle => salivation (2 different stimuli => unconditioned response)

After conditioning
-Whistle => salivation (conditioned stimulus => conditioned response)

Question 15

Describe habituation and spontaneous recovery in relation to classical conditioning

Answer 15

When conditioned stimuli continuously presented without the unconditioned stimulus => loss of conditioned response

Spontaneous recovery
-Conditioned response may spontaneously reoccur after habituation

Question 16

Describe generalisation and discrimination i relation to classical conditioning

Answer 16

Conditioned response transfers to stimuli that are similar but distinct from original conditioned response

However, conditioned response will not transfer to stimuli that are distinct from the original conditioned stimulus

Question 17

How would you use classical conditioning in physical symptoms (chemotherapy)

Answer 17

Chemotherapy => fatigue and nausea

Patients become conditioned to feel fatigued and nauseous before treatment

Chemotherapy paired with a drink
Fatigue and nausea now more associated with the drink than chemotherapy

Question 18

What are the 2 ways of treating phobias using principles of classical conditioning
Describe both of them

Answer 18

Flooding

• exposure to feared stimulus => provokes original trauma
• patient has to use relaxation techniques to calm down, face their fear and lose the response

Systematic desensitisation

• gradually increase the intensity of the feared stimulus
• fear to stimulus lost

Question 19

What is operant conditioning (Skinners rats)

What are the steps involved

Answer 19

Behaviours acquired through the learn process of reinforcement and punishment

Stimulus (rats in a box)
Behaviour (rat presses lever)
Consequences of the behaviour via +ve/-ve reinforcement (receives feedback on its actions

Question 20

What are the 2 types of consequences that are possible in operant conditioning

Which consequence is more effective and why

Answer 20

Strengthening behaviour
+ve, adding something valuable/desirable
-ve, avoiding something unpleasant

Weakening behaviour
+ve, adding something unpleasant
-ve, removing something valued/desired

Reinforcement tells you what to do => more effective
Punishment only tells you what not to do

Question 21

Why would you need to adapt operant conditioning for different people

Answer 21

Everyone responds differently to different stimuli

Everyone has different values and desires

Question 22

How would time duration affect operant conditioning

Answer 22

Longer the duration of time between behaviour and consequence, the weaker the effect on behaviour

Question 23

How does the size of reinforcement affect operant conditioning

Answer 23

If gain/potential loss deemed significant then behaviour is strengthened

Question 24

What is the wrong way to decrease the frequency of a habitual behaviour via operant conditioning

Answer 24

If trying to decrease a habitual behaviour, then inconsistent reinforcement patterns make it more challenging to change

Question 25

How would you use conditioning in clinical practice

Answer 25

Encourages adaptive behaviours in medication adherence by finding valued goals
Addictions

Question 26

What is Social Learning Modelling

Describe this experiment

Answer 26

Behaviours acquired by observing significant others carry them out
Can learn phobic responses from significant others

1. Child sees adult being rewarded for beating up a doll => child more likely to beat up doll
2. Child sees adult being punished for beating up a doll => child less likely to beat up doll
3. Child sees adult neither punished/rewarded for beating up doll => child neither more/less likely to beat up doll

Question 27

In Social Learning Modelling, which intervention is more effective in learning?
What characteristics make it more likely for someone to copy the actions of a SO

Answer 27

More likely to copy if behaviour reinforced in SO

Characteristics of SO determine if behaviour is copied
More similar => more likely

Question 28

4 Problems with social learning theories

Answer 28

• Learning theories only focus on innate responses to environmental stimuli
• Does not consider conscious processes
• Outcomes of behaviour are unpredictable, influenced by cognition
• Knowledge can also change behaviour

Question 29

What are the 3 factors that affect behaviour

Answer 29

Capability
Motivation
Opportunity