Learning approaches: The behaviourist approach Flashcards
what is the behaviourist approach
a way of explaining behaviour in terms of:
- what is observable
- in terms of learning.
what do behaviourists believe
Behaviourists believe all behaviour is learned and they describe a baby’s mind as a ‘blank slate’ and this is written on by experience.
Early behaviourists such as John B. Watson rejected introspection. As a result, behaviourists tried to maintain more objectivity and control within their research through lab studies.
what did behaviourists identify as two important forms of learning
classical conditioning and operant conditioning
classical conditioning
Classical conditioning is learning by association. This was first demonstrated by Pavlov. Pavlov showed how dogs could be conditioned to salivate at the sound of a bell if that sound was repeatedly presented at the same time as food was given. Gradually, Pavlov’s dogs learned to associate the sound of a bell (a neutral stimulus) with the food (an unconditioned stimulus) and would produce a salivation response every time they heard the bell.
Pavlov was able to show how a neutral stimulus (bell) can elicit a conditioned response through association.
operant conditioning
Skinner suggested learning is an active process. In operant conditioning behaviour is shaped by its consequences.
positive and negative reinforcement and punishment
In Skinner’s research, a rat learned through negative reinforcement that pressing a leaver stopped electric shocks.
Positive reinforcement
receiving a reward when a certain behaviour is performed, such as praise from a teacher for answering a question correctly. increases likelihood behaviour is repeated
Negative reinforcement
occurs when a certain behaviour is performed to avoid something unpleasant. Such as a student handing in homework to avoid getting told off. increases likelihood behaviour is repeated
punishment
an unpleasant consequence of behaviour. Such as being shouted at by your parents for having a messy room. decreases likelihood behaviour is repeated
Evaluation of behaviourist approach (brief)
strength - based on well controlled research HOWEVER oversimplified learning process
strength - real life application
weakness - environmental determinism
strengths of behaviourist approach
A strength of the BA is that it is based on well controlled research. Research is focused on the measurement of observable behaviour in highly controlled lab settings. This eliminates possible extraneous variables and allows for a cause and effect relationship to be established. For example skinner clearly demonstrated how reinforcement influenced an animals behaviour. This increases the validity of BA as the experiments have scientific credibility. However the BA can be said to have oversimplified the learning process. The BA reduced learning to simple components and ignored the important influence of human thought. This suggests that learning is more complex than observable behaviour alone.
this approach has real-world application. The principles of conditioning have been applied to real-world behaviours and problems. For example, operant conditioning is the basis of the token economy system which is used successfully in prisons and psychiatric wards. They work by rewarding appropriate behaviours with tokens which can be exchanged for privileges. This increases the impact the approach has on the real world due to its widespread application.
weakness of behaviourist approach
the behaviourist approach has environmental determinism as it sees all behaviour as conditioned by past conditioning experiences. Skinner suggested that everything we do is as a result of our reinforcement history. This approach ignores any possible influence that free will may have on behaviour. Skinner himself said that free will is an illusion. This approach ignores the influence of conscious decision making processes on behaviour as suggested by the cognitive approach.
strength (bullet points)
well controlled research
measurement of observable behaviour in highly controlled lab settings
extraneous variables removed
cause and effect relationships can be established
e.g. skinner showed how reinforcement influences animal behaviour
increases validity of BA as has scientific credibility.
HOWEVER
oversimplified
reduce learning to simple components, ignored influence of human thought
learning more complex than observable behaviour
