Lesson 2- Behaviourist approach- Classical conditioning & Pavlov’s research

Question 1

What is the behavioural approach?

Answer 1

Behavioural approach- way of explaining 🏃‍♂‍ in terms of what is observed in terms of learning

Question 2

What are the 3 assumptions of the behavioural approach?

Answer 2

1) Behavioural model suggests- all 🏃‍♂‍ can be learnt via classical conditioning
2) All 🏃‍♂‍ should be studied scientifically 🧪 in a lab setting
3) 🏃‍♂‍ should be observed & measured

Question 3

What is classical conditioning?

Answer 3

Classical conditioning- learning by association- neutral stimulus (produces ✖️ response) repeatedly paired with unconditional stimulus (produces unconditioned response) until neutral stimulus becomes conditioned stimulus & alone produces conditioned response (same response initially produced by unconditioned stimulus)

Question 4

Which 2 studies investigated classical conditioning?

Answer 4

1) Little Albert 👶 by Watson & Rayner

2) Salivating dogs 🐕 by Ivan Pavlov

Question 5

What did Pavlov find with his study on dogs?

Answer 5

Pavlov- experimented on dogs 🐕- found 🐕 could salivate at sound of bell 🔔

Question 6

State the full pairing process to create the association

Answer 6

BEFORE CC- Food🍎 (UCS) = Salivation = (UCR)
BEFORE CC- 🔔 = NS = no response
DURING CC- 🍎 (UCS) + 🔔 (NS) = Salivation (UCR)
AFTER CC- 🔔 (CS) = Salivation (CR)

Question 7

What does UCS, UCR, NS, CS & CR mean?

Answer 7

UCS = Unconditioned stimulus
UCR = Unconditioned response
NS = Neutral stimulus
CS = Conditioned stimulus 
CR = Conditioned response

Question 8

What are the 3 principles of classical conditioning in relation to Pavlov’s research?

Answer 8

1) Generalisation- stimuli similar to original conditioned stimuli (🔔) also cause conditioned response (salivation) e.g. a 🔔 with different pitch/sound also causes salivation
2) Discrimination- stimuli similar to original conditioned stimuli (🔔) ✖️ produce conditioned response (salivation)- done by withholding unconditioned stimulus (🍎) when using similar stimuli
3) Extinction- conditioned response (salivation) ✖️ produced by 🔔- occurs when conditioned stimulus (🔔) presented without unconditioned stimulus (🍎)

Question 9

What are the evaluation points for classical conditioning?

Answer 9

👎- Menzies studied ppl with phobia of 💧 (hydrophobia)- found only 2% of sample had encountered ➖ experience with 💧 (classical conditioning & learning) … 98% of sample had phobia BUT ✖️ learnt to be frightened of 💧- ALSO- 50% of ppl with 🐕 phobia never had bad experience with 🐕 … learning via classical conditioning ✖️ be only factor in causing development of phobia
👍- classical conditioning applied to treatments of psychological disorders e.g. CC helped form treatments like flooding & systematic desensitisation- based on components of CC & association
👎- criticised by biological approach- behavioural model ignores role of genes, hormones, evolution etc- responsible for 🏃‍♂‍ e.g. schizophrenia mainly caused by genetics (identified by gene mapping)- very unlikely that someone could learn to be schizophrenic (via classical conditioning)
👍- research evidence (animal & humans studies)- Pavlov’s research with 🐕 & Little Albert study by Watson & Rayner … research applies to both