Psychology: Behaviourism

Question 1

What are the 3 assumptions of the Behaviourist approach?

Answer 1

1. Our Behaviour is learnt through experiences, apart form a few simple in-built reflexes. Tabula Rasa - Blank Slate
2. The mind is not important for understaning behaviour, instead we focus on behavoiur that is observable.
3. Humans and animals learn in the same way

Question 2

What is Classical Conditioning?

Answer 2

• Classical Conditioning involves learning through association between two stimulus.

Question 3

What is Pavlov’s process of classical conditioning?

Answer 3

• One stimulus produces a reflex response (SR unit)
• The other is a neutral stimulus that produces no response
• The two stimuli are paired and presented several times before removing the stimulus which causes the reflex response, leaving the other stimulus to now produce a conditioned response.
  Pavlov did this using dogs, food and bell to create a conditioned response.

Question 4

What is Operant Conditioning?

Answer 4

• Involves learning through the Consequences of our actions (or reinforcement)
• Organisms spontaneously produce different behaviours which have consequences (good or bad). Repetition of behaviour depends on consequences (reinforced or punishment).
• While classical conditioning explains simple behaviour (has to be paired with an S-R unit), operant conditioning aims to explain more complex phenomena.W

Question 5

What is Reinforcement?

Answer 5

A consequence that increases the likelihood of the behaviour being repeated (+ve or - ve) e.g. Verbal Reinforcement

Question 6

What is Positive Reinforcement?

Answer 6

A reward is given when a certain behaviour is performed e.g. Present

Question 7

What is Negative Reinforcement?

Answer 7

Occurs when an individual increases behaviour due to avoidance of the negative consequences e.g. fear of detention

Question 8

What is Punishment?

Answer 8

An unpleasant consequence that reduces the likelihood of the preceded behaviour occurring again e.g. naughty step

Question 9

What was the results of Skinner’s first experiment? Which type of reinforcement did this support and why?

Answer 9

The rat would press the lever to receive a reward. this is known as positive reinforcement.

Question 10

How did Skinner then extend his research? How did this show evidence of another type of reinforcement and why?

Answer 10

Skinner repeated the same experiment but uses negative reinforcement by using electric bars to shock the rat if it doesn’t press the lever.

Question 11

What are the limitations of using animals in research for the Behaviourist approach?

Answer 11

Limitation of using animals is that humans are far more complex than animals with larger brains (more complex thought processes). Therefore incomplete explanation for humans.

Question 12

How does Little Albert study show Classical Conditioning?

Answer 12

That classical conditioning gore’s further than just that they are trying to condition a person to e.g Little Albert was conditioned to fear a rat but ended up conditioned to anything furry

Question 13

How does behaviourism have scientific credibility?

Answer 13

Because it was done in controlled conditions in a lab under test conditions with low extraneous variables

Question 14

What is a problem with behaviourist principle of only looking at observable behaviour?

Answer 14

Because it doesn’t look at cognitive process that affect behaviour or biological factors such as inherited diseases.

Question 15

How can positive reinforcement be used in schools? Why is this a strength?

Answer 15

Using positive reinforcement, Negative Reinforcement, punishment, reward and vicarious Reinforcement.