Learning Approaches: Behaviourism

Question 1

What is the behaviourist approach?

Answer 1

Is only interested in studying behaviour that can be observed and measured. Not concerned with investigating mental processes of the mind.

Question 2

Why do behaviourists reject introspection and what do they use instead?

Answer 2

1. Early behaviourists like John B Watson rejected it because it involved too many concepts that were vague and difficult to control.
2. They tried to maintain more control and objectivity within their research and relied on lab experiments.

Question 3

What are the assumptions of the behaviourist approach?

Answer 3

1. Behaviour is learnt
2. If behaviour is observable it can be measured scientifically
3. Basic processes that govern learning are the same in all species.

Question 4

What are the two important forms of learning that behaviourists have identified and what do they mean?

Answer 4

1. Classical conditioning: Learning by association. Occurs when a UCS and a neutral stimulus are paired together. The neutral stimulus eventually produces the same response that was first produced by the unlearned stimulus.
2. Operant conditioning: A form of learning where behaviour is shaped and maintained by its consequences, like positive and negative reinforcement and punishment.

Question 5

What is a neutral stimulus?

Answer 5

A stimulus that at first elicits no response

Question 6

Conditioned Stimulus:

Answer 6

A stimulus that can eventually trigger a conditioned response

Question 7

Unconditioned stimulus:

Answer 7

A stimulus that leads to an automatic response

Question 8

Unconditioned response:

Answer 8

An automatic response to a stimulus

Question 9

Conditioned response:

Answer 9

A learned response to a previously neutral stimulus after forming an association.

Question 10

What was the aim of Pavlov’s dog experiment?

Answer 10

See if the dogs could learn by association

Question 11

What was the procedure of Pavlov’s dog experiment?

Answer 11

1. He presented the food to the dogs bringing about an unconditioned response.
2. He then rang the bell and this did not bring about a conditioned response.
3. He then rang the bell before presenting food, this caused them to salivate bringing about an unconditioned response.
4. After the dogs associated the bell with food, they began to salivate from the bell alone. This is a conditioned response.

Question 12

What was the conclusion of Pavlov’s dog experiment?

Answer 12

A neutral stimulus can elicit a new learned response- a conditioned response

Question 13

Positive reinforcement:

Answer 13

Receiving a reward when a certain behaviour is performed

Question 14

Negative reinforcement:

Answer 14

Occurs when an animal or human avoids something unpleasant

Question 15

Punishment:

Answer 15

An unpleasant consequence of behaviour. P and N reinforcement increase the likelihood that behaviour will be repeated. Punishment does the opposite

Question 16

What was the aim of Skinner’s rat experiment?

Answer 16

To see if he could condition the rats to avoid consequences and behave in order to be rewarded.

Question 17

What was the procedure of Skinner’s rat experiment?

Answer 17

1. Placed the animals in a Skinner’s box.
2. When the rat accidentally pushes the lever, a pellet of food would come out. New behaviour is reinforced
3. Then the rat is placed in a box with an electric floor, causing discomfort
4. As the rat moved around, it would accidentally knock into the lever stopping the current
5. New behaviour is reinforced.
6. This shows behaviour is largely influenced by the environment.

Question 18

What were the aims of the Little Albert experiment?

Answer 18

Watson and Rayner wanted to see if they could condition him to fear a white rat if it was paired with a hammer hitting a steel bar. Also, if the fear would persist with similar objects and animals

Question 19

What was the procedure of the Little Albert experiment?

Answer 19

1. Before conditioning, Albert was not afraid of the stimulus
2. He was then exposed to a loud startling sound, causing him to expect a frightening noise every time he saw the rat.
   3.He then began to cry from just seeing the rat.
3. After conditioning, his fear extended to a variety of white objects
4. This is called stimulus generalisation.

Question 20

What were criticisms of the Little Albert experiment?

Answer 20

1. Left the experiment with a previously non-existent fear
2. They also didn’t come up with an objective way to evaluate Albert’s reaction, relying on their own subjective interpretations.

Question 21

Stimulus Generalisation:

Answer 21

If a stimulus has characteristics close to the conditioned stimulus, then the association would also be made to the new stimulus

Question 22

Stimulus discrimination:

Answer 22

When characteristics of the conditioned stimulus and an object are too different to be generalised

Question 23

Time contiguity:

Answer 23

If the time lapse between presentations is too great there will be no association made.

Question 24

What are the pros of this approach?

Answer 24

1. Uses the scientific method, enhancing replicability and the validity of the conclusions
2. Useful real-life applications like developing treatments for phobias systematic desensitisation and token economy systems for patients with mental illnesses and prisoners

Question 25

What are the cons of this approach?

Answer 25

1. Too mechanistic and discounts the role of thought processes in behaviour, rather seeing them as passive responders to th environment. It is over-simplistic
2. Sees all behaviour as determined by past experiences, free will is an illusion
3. Skinner’s rats were caused considerable harm, breaching the BPS ethical guideline and failed to protect Albert from harm, by not giving him the opportunity to withdraw.