Paper 2 - Approaches In Psychology - Topic 4 - Learning Approaches: The Behaviourist Approach Flashcards
What is the primary focus of the behaviourist approach?
The behaviourist approach is only interested in studying behaviour that can be observed and measured
How did early behaviourists view mental processes?
Early behaviourists rejected introspection and considered mental processes irrelevant
What did John B. Watson contribute to the behaviourist approach?
John B. Watson rejected introspection due to its vague and difficult-to-measure concepts
What do behaviourists believe about behaviour?
Behaviourists believe that all behaviour is learned and describe a baby’s mind as a ‘blank slate’
What are the two important forms of learning identified by behaviourists?
The two important forms of learning are classical conditioning and operant conditioning
What is classical conditioning?
Classical conditioning is learning through association, first demonstrated by Ivan Pavlov
What was Pavlov’s experiment with dogs?
Pavlov conditioned dogs to salivate at the sound of a bell by associating it with food
What is operant conditioning?
Operant conditioning is learning where behaviour is shaped by its consequences, as suggested by B.F. Skinner
What is positive reinforcement?
Positive reinforcement is receiving a reward for performing a certain behaviour, such as praise from a teacher
What is negative reinforcement?
Negative reinforcement occurs when an animal or human avoids something unpleasant, leading to a positive experience
What is punishment in the context of operant conditioning?
Punishment is an unpleasant consequence of behaviour, such as being reprimanded by a teacher
What is a strength of the behaviourist approach?
One strength is that it is based on well-controlled research in lab settings
What is a counterpoint to the behaviourist approach’s strengths?
Behaviourists may have oversimplified the learning process by ignoring the influence of human thought
What is a real-world application of the behaviourist approach?
Operant conditioning principles are used in token economy systems in institutions like prisons
What is a limitation of the behaviourist approach regarding free will?
The behaviourist approach sees all behaviour as conditioned by past experiences, ignoring the influence of free will
