Learning approaches: The behaviourist approach

Question 1

A01

Outline the behavioural approach

behaviourist -Watson,Pavlov & Skinner

Answer 1

A way of explaining behaviour in terms of what is observed & learned
Behaviourism was pioneered by Watson
Watson rejected introspection as it involved vague concepts difficult to measure
Behaviourists believe that all behaviour is learned
they describe a babys mind as a blank slate written on by experience

in behaviourist research animals replace humans as experimental subjects

Question 2

Outline Assumptions of behaviourist approach

Answer 2

• Behaviourists believe all behaviour is learned.
• all animals born with blank slate & all behaviours are learned from interaction with enviroment( experiences)
• Ony interested in studying behaviour that can be observed & measured
• Behaviourists identified two different forms of learning:
• Classical conditioning
• Operant conditioning

( not concerned with investigating mental process of mind like Wundt)

Question 3

Classical conditioning-Pavlov’s research

Answer 3

Classical conditioning-learning through association
demonstrated by pavlov
Pavlov showed dogs can be conditioned to salivate to sound of bell
when sound repeated at same time food was given .
gradually pavlovs dogs learned to associate sound of bell ( neutral stimulus) with food(conditioned stimulus)
dogs would produce salivation response each time heard the sound
showed how neutral stimulus(bell) can elicit a new response conditioned response(salivation) through association

food-(unconditioned stimulus) & salivation was unconditioned response
when bell(neutral stimulus) rang produced no conditioned response
when bell(neutral stimulus) & food paired produced salivation
bell became (conditioned stimulus)- producing (conditioned response )-salivation

Question 4

Operant conditioning-skinner’s research

Operant conditioning -coined by skinner

Answer 4

Operant conditioning- behaviour is shaped by consequences

In operant conditioning there are 3 types of consequences of behaviour:(skinner)
Positive reinforcement-recieveing a reward when behaviour is performed
Negative reinforcement-occurs when we avoid something unpleasant-outcome is positive experience i.e rat learns through negaive reinforcement that pressing lether leads to avoidance of electric shock
Punishment -unpleasant consequence of behaviour i.g being shouted at & to avoid this is through negative reinforcement
positive & negative reinforcement increase likelyhood that behaviour will be repeated.
Punishment decreases likelyhood that behaviour is repeated**

Skinner’s Box = Skinner demonstrated, using a rat, the mechanisms of positive & negative reinforcement. Positive reinforcement was shown when the rats pressed down on a lever to receive food as a reward, & learnt to repeat this action to increase their rewards.
Negative reinforcement was shown when the rat learnt to press down on the lever to avoid the unpleasant consequence of an electric shock.

Question 5

A03

Outline how behaviourist approach has scientific credibility-LAB SETTING

strength

Answer 5

behaviourists focus on measuring observable behaviour within highly controlled lab setting
by breaking behaviour into stimulus-response units-all other EX variables removed-allowing cause & effect relationships
e.g skinner was able to show how reinfoircement influences rats behaviour IN LAB hence-behaviourist experiments have scientific crediibility

Question 6

Behaviourist approach is reductionist

reducationism-simplfies human bheaviour

Counterpoint to scientific credibility

Answer 6

only explains behaviour in terms of simple stimulus responses & associations-lacks meaning in explaining complex human behaviours
& ignores important influences in learning that involve human thought e.g SLT & cognitive approach draw attention to mental process involved in learning -thus learning is more complex

Behavioursist do not focus on mental processes!

Question 7

Outline how Behaviorusit approach is criticised for enviromental determinism-past reinforcement & codntioning experiences

Limitation

ENVIROMENTAL D-human beings are controlled by external forces such as agents of socialisation e.g. parents, teachers

Answer 7

The behaviourist approach sees all behaviour as product of past reinforcement & conditioning experiences
Skinner suggests everything we do- sum of reinforcement history ,ignores any influence free will has on behaviour,
skinner said any sense of free will is an illusion this is an extreme position & ignores influence of concisous decisions making processes on behaviour i.e motivation & reasoning skills -limited explanation for human behaviour