Learning theories: Behaviourism

Question 1

Main assumptions of behaviourism

Answer 1

• We are all born a ‘blank slate’ with only a limited number of reflex actions.
• Behaviour is learnt through interactions with the environment.
• Therefore our behaviour is just a reaction to environmental stimuli.
• Behaviourists are only interested in observable behaviours that can be objectively measured using scientific methods.

Question 2

Pavlov (CC)

Answer 2

• Pavlov was a pioneer of the behaviourist approach.
• In one of his experiments he accidently discovered that dogs not only salivate (UCR) in the presence of food (UCS), but also in the presence of a neutral stimulus (a bell), once it had been repeatedly paired with the food.
• He claimed that this us because the neutral stimulus (bell) was repeatedly paired with the food, overtime the dogs learnt to associate the sound of the bell with food, and therefore salivated as a response.
• The bell has become the conditioned stimulus, and the salivating of the dogs has become the conditioned response.
• This process is called classical conditioning.

Question 3

Before conditioning

Answer 3

UCS (food) —> UCR (salivating).
NS (bell) —> no response.

Question 4

During conditioning

Answer 4

UCS (food) + NS (bell) —> UCR (salivating).

Question 5

After conditioning

Answer 5

CS (bell) —> CR (salivation).

Question 6

Pavlov’s contributions to our understanding

Answer 6

• A focus on the importance of objectivity in understanding behaviour.
• Demonstrated the value of using animals in research to better understand human behaviour.
• An understanding of the role of classical conditioning in phobias.
• An appreciation of how behaviour is learnt and environmentally determined through associations between a stimulus and a response.