Lecture Nov 13

Question 1

historical context of behaviourism

Answer 1

early definition of psychology: simply “the study of behaviour”

emphasis on OBSERVABLE ACTIONS only, excluding thoughts and emotions

Question 2

impact of behaviourism

Answer 2

dominated early psychology

limited scope of psychological inquiry to measurable behaviours

Question 3

evolution of the behavioural approach

Answer 3

SHIFT OVER TIME: despite a decline in strict behaviourism, its core concepts remain influential

the field expanded beyond simple behaviour to include MENTAL PROCESSES

INTEGRATION OF COGNITIVE CONCEPTS: the line between behavioural and cognitive approaches has blurred over time

Question 4

expansion of behavioural concepts

Answer 4

social learning theory incorporates cognitive elements such as thoughts, values, perceptions

Question 5

expansion of behavioural concepts: observational learning

Answer 5

people can learn behaviours observing others

not just through direct experience

ie. learning new skills by watching a mentor or through media

Question 6

key concepts of social learning theory

Answer 6

1. UNOBSERVABLE FACTORS

^ cognitive processes like expectations and individual perceptions

2. LEARNING THROUGH OBSERVATION

^ can learn behaviours without direct reinforcement

3. IMPORTANCE OF ROLE MODELS

^ behaviour of significant others (parents, peers, public figures) influence learning

Question 7

integration of cognitive-behavioural perspectives

Answer 7

CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy)

practitioners now use an INTEGRATED framework for understanding and modifying behaviour

Question 8

CBT

Answer 8

cognitive behavioural therapy

combines principles of behaviourism and cognitive psychology

focuses on CHANGING both BEHAVIOURS and THOUGHT PATTERNS

Question 9

CBT combines what 3 things?

Answer 9

thoughts

feelings

behaviours

Question 10

John B Watson’s influence on behaviourism

Answer 10

really started it all off

1913 - he publishes “Psychology as the Behaviourist Views It”

^ marks the start of behaviourism

Question 11

John B Watson’s main argument

Answer 11

psychology should focus ONLY on OBSERVABLE BEHAVIOUR

not on unobservable mental states

REJECTION of mental states - emotions, thoughts, the unconscious were considered irrelevant unless they could be observed and measured

Question 12

behaviourism’s overt behaviour as subject matter

Answer 12

emphasis on behaviours that can be observed, predicted and controlled

Question 13

behaviourism’s goal

Answer 13

to make psychology a science based on measurable phenomena

Question 14

Watson’s conditioning beliefs

Answer 14

1. personality as HABIT SYSTEMS

^ Watson believed personality results from LEARNED RESPONSES to STIMULI over time

2. conditioning and PERSONALITY

^ people’s characteristic behaviours them from their unique conditioning histories

3. CONTROVERSIAL claim

^ asserted that given control of the environment, any child could be trained to become any type of specialist, regardless of genetics or background

Question 15

Skinner’s approach is called…

Answer 15

radical behaviourism

expanded on Watson’s ideas

acknowledged existence of thoughts, but focused on observable behaviours

Question 16

environmental determinism

Answer 16

Watson

behaviour is shaped by environmental contingencies, NOT free will or internal traits

Question 17

BF Skinner’s controversial views

Answer 17

in Beyond Freedom and Dignity, he argued that the concept of PERSONAL FREEDOM is an ILLUSION shaped by EXTERNAL REINFORCEMENTS

Question 18

self-regulation

Answer 18

part of social-cognitive theory

controls behaviour in the ABSENCE of EXTERNAL REINFORCEMENTS and PUNISHMENTS