Learning theories, behaviourist approach - classical conditioning (paper 2) Flashcards
What is the behaviourist approach interested in studying
Behaviour that can be observed and measured and they ignore mental processes of the mind.
How is the behaviourist approach controlled and measurable
They study observable behaviour in labs, making it highly scientific in its methods.
What do behaviourists believe about human and animal learning
Human learning is just a more complex form of animal learning. Therefore, rats and pigeons for instance, can replace humans in experiments.
What is classical conditioning
Learning by association
What study supports classical conditioning?
Pavlov’s Dogs
Did early behaviourists support or reject introspection?
Reject
How do behaviourists believe behaviour is learnt
Through experiences
What occurred before conditioning in Pavlov’s Dogs study
Food = UCS (Unconditioned Stimulus) -> Salivation = UCR (Unconditioned Response)
How did Pavlov begin the process of conditioning
Food = UCS + Bell = NS (Neutral Stimulus) -> Salivation = UCR
What happened once Pavlov’s dogs were conditioned
Bell = CS (Conditioned Stimulus) -> Salivation = CR (Conditioned Response)
What would happen if the bell (CS) in Pavlov’s experiment was repeatedly presented without the food
Salivation (CR) would slowly disappear, this is extinction
What is spontaneous recovery
Even after the CR appears to have been extinguished, sometimes the CR (e.g. the dog salivating) will still occur as a result of the CS (sound of the bell).
What is generalisation
The CS (the bell) could be changed slightly (e.g. in tone and volume) and still produce the CR (salivation).
