learning approach-the behaviourist approach

Question 1

what is an unconditioned stimulus

Answer 1

an unconditioned stimulus is a stimulus that naturally, automatically triggers a response

Question 2

what is an uncondtioned response

Answer 2

the non-learnt response that occurs naturally in response to the unconditoned stimulus

Question 3

what is a neutral stimulus

Answer 3

a stimulus that does not elicit a response

Question 4

what is a conditioned stimulus

Answer 4

a previously neutral stimulus that after being pared with the unconditioned stimulus now elicits a conditioned response

Question 5

what is a conditioned response

Answer 5

the learned response to the previously neutral stimulus

Question 6

how does classical conditioning state we learn

Answer 6

through association

Question 7

what was Pavlovs experiment

Answer 7

-dogs were conditioned to associate the sound of the bell(NS) with food (UCS)
-this resulted in the dogs producing a salivation response (CR) to the bell (CS) even when no food was present

Question 8

what was pavlovs conclusion

Answer 8

that repeated exposure to an event leads to learned and controllable behaviour.
can be used to explain acquisition of phobias and development of attachment

Question 9

what is complete conditioning

Answer 9

complete condtioning is when the CS always produces the CR

Question 10

what happens before conditioning

Answer 10

UCS—>UCR

Question 11

what happens during conditioning

Answer 11

NS+UCS—>UCR

Question 12

what happens after conditioning

Answer 12

CS—>CR

Question 13

how does classical conditioninf work

Answer 13

by repeating the connection between the CS and UCS

Question 14

what is stimulus generalisation

Answer 14

if the stimulus has characteristics close to the conditioned stimulus associations will still be made so it will still produce that conditioned response

Question 15

what is stimulus discrimination

Answer 15

if the stimulus has characteristics that are too different from the conditioned stimulus associations will not be made so it will not produce the conditioned response

Question 16

what is time contiguity

Answer 16

associations will only be made if the NS and UCS are present around the same time. If the time lapse between them is too great no associations will be made

Question 17

supporting research for classical conditioning

Answer 17

watson and rayner presented little albert with a white rate to which he wasnt afraid of.
as he approached the white rate a noise sounded behind him. This was repeated x6
then when the rat was presented he was frightened and pulled away from it
he was conditioned to be scared of the rat.
he found other white furry objects scary-stimulus generalization

Question 18

ethics of little alberts study

Answer 18

-he wasnt protected from psychological harm
+gained consent from mother
+they did try to debrief him but he left
+confidentiality-psydonmym

Question 19

what is operant conditioning

Answer 19

The way in which voluntary behaviors are learnt
learning through consequences

Question 20

what is positive reinforcement

Answer 20

to encourage someone to repeat a behavior by giving them something pleasant

Question 21

what is negative reinforcement

Answer 21

to encourage someone to repeat a behavior by removing something unpleasant

Question 22

what is punishment

Answer 22

behaviour is less likely to occur because of negative consequences
(recieving something umplesant which decreases the chance behaviour is repeated)

Question 23

what is a primary reinforcers

Answer 23

non-learned and directly satisfy a basic need eg-food and water

Question 24

what are secondary reinforcers

Answer 24

does not directly satisfy a basic need but can be used to get a primary reinforcer. Eg-money and vouchers

Question 25

supporting evidence for operant conditioning

Answer 25

--skinner used a puzzle box to observe animal behaviour (Pigeons and rats) in a laboratory -there were visual cues eg-loudspeakers and lights -positive reinforcement-the rat leant that pressing the leaver would mean he would get a pellet. The pressing of the leaver becomes a learnt behaviour as the rat learns it will be rewarded with a pellet each time it presses the leaver -negarive reinforcement-the rat was subjected to an unpleasant electrical current when the rat would press the leaver the current will have stopped. He would repeat the action of pressing the leaver to escape the consequence of the electrical current punishement-each time the rat pressed the lever it would recieve an electrical shock instead of a food pellet. the rat stopped pressing the leaver as the shock acted as punishment

Question 26

advantages of animal research

Answer 26

can replicate it on similar animals as they have smaller gestation periods

Question 27

disadvantages of animal research

Answer 27

animals have different cognitions and motivations to humans

Question 28

what are the ABCs of operant conditioning (used to analyse behaviour)

Answer 28

A-antecedents B-behaviour C-consequences

Question 29

what is an antecedent

Answer 29

what happens prior to the behaviour being performed eg-lights

Question 30

what is the behaviour

Answer 30

skinner called these operant eg-pressing the leaver

Question 31

what is the consequence

Answer 31

what happens after the operant eg-food pellet or electrical shock

Question 32

issues and debates

Answer 32

in booklet

Question 33

supporting evidence of the behaviourist approach (psychology as a science)

Answer 33

he focussed on objective methods of research for eg-they conduct research in a lab and measure observable behaviour -this means its replicable

Question 34

supporting evidence for behaviourist approach (non-human)

Answer 34

they used animals in research as they believed the learning process in humans and animals was similar -using animals gives more control over the process without the influence of demand characteristics or individual differences -however these results cannot be generalised to the wider population as animals and humans have different motivations and cognitions so we cannot extrapolate from humans to animals

Question 35

does the behaviourist approach believe behaviour is free will or determinism

Answer 35

environmentally deterministic-behaviour is determined by our environment

Question 36

does the behaviourist approach believe behaviour is reductionist or holism

Answer 36

reductionist-attempts to reduce all aspects of human behaviour down to one explantion

Question 37

does the behaviourist approach believe behaviour is nurture or nature

Answer 37

nurture-environment

Question 38

how is classical conditioning useful to real life

Answer 38

can be used to treat phobias through systemic desensitisation

Question 39

how is operant conditioning useful to real life

Answer 39

can be used to help change behaviour which is seen as negative

Question 40

Alyernative approaches to behaviourist approach

Answer 40

Fail to consider the influence of thought and cognitive processes as they are not observation. Could be regarded as being too narrow