Learning Appraoch - Behaviourist Approach

Question 1

Main assumptions of behaviourist approach

Answer 1

Behaviour is learnt from experience

Question 2

2 types of conditioning in the behaviourist approach

Answer 2

Classical conditioning
Operant conditioning

Question 3

Describe classical conditioning

Answer 3

Learning by association

Question 4

Pavlov research - classical conditioning

Answer 4

Stage 1 - before conditioning
- the unconditioned stimulus (food) cause an unconditioned response ( salvation)
- a neutral stimulus did no cause the response ( a bell)

Stage 2 - during conditioning
- the neutral stimulus (bell) paired with unconditioned stimulus (food)

Stage 3 - after conditioning
- dog leant association
- conditioned stimulus (bell) caused conditioned response(salvation)

Question 5

Describe operant conditioning

Answer 5

Learnt through consequences of our actions
- consequences pleasant behaviour repeated whereas consequence unpleasant they do not repeat behaviour

Question 6

Skinner reaserch -operant conditioning

Answer 6

Designed a box in which animal behaviour (pulling a lever) could be rewarded with food pellets or with the removal of discomfort (electric shock)

Question 7

3 types of consequences skinner removed

Answer 7

• Positive reinforcement
• negative reinforcement
• punishment

Question 8

Positive reinforcement

Answer 8

• consequence is reward
• positively reinforced for pressing lever by recieving food pellets
• increases the likelihood of the behaviour being repeated

Question 9

Negative reinforcement

Answer 9

• Action removes something unpleasant
• pressing lever stopped electric shock
• increases the likelihood of the behaviour being repeated

Question 10

Punishment

Answer 10

• unpleasant consequence
• electric shock received when lever pulled
• stops/decreases behaviour

Question 11

Strengths

Answer 11

• experimental supports: lab experiments, well controlled, replicated ad checked for reliability
• irl application: explains phobias, effective treatments, systemic desensitisation( based on classical conditioning) effective treatment nd token economy(operant conditioning) effective behaviour modification in prisons

Question 12

Weaknesses

Answer 12

• environmental determinism
  Deterministic to see all behaviours determined by previous condition and does not recuse free will could not behave certain way because of morals and religious values however behaviourist approach argues free will is an illusion
• cant be generalised use of animals