The behaviourist approach Flashcards
What is the behaviourist approach?
A way of explaining behaviour concerning what is observable in terms of learning.
What were the basic assumptions of behavourists?
All behaviour is learned from the environment.
Psychology should be seen as a science.
Behaviourism is primarily concerned with observable behaviour, as opposed to internal events like thinking and emotion.
There is little difference between the learning that takes place in humans and that in other animals.
Behaviour is the result of stimulus-response.
What are the two important forms of learning identified by behaviourists?
Classical conditioning - learning by association.
Operant conditioning - learning through consequences.
What is classical conditioning?
Studied by Ivan Pavlov, this is the idea that learning takes place through association. Pavlov demonstrated this through experimenting on dogs.
Define the term unconditioned stimulus.
Is a stimulus that leads to an automatic response - food.
Define the term unconditioned (innate) response.
An unlearned response that occurs naturally in reaction to the unconditioned stimulus.
Dog salivated in response to the food presented to him.
Define the term neutral stimulus.
Is a stimulus that produces no response other than catching your attention - bell.
Define the term conditioned stimulus.
Is a previously neutral stimulus that, after becoming associated with the unconditioned stimulus, eventually comes to trigger a conditioned response.
After a few pairings the dogs salivated when they heard the bell even when no food was given.
The dogs had learnt to associate the bell with the food and the sound of the bell and salivation was triggered by the sound of the bell.
Define the term operant conditioning.
Studied by BF Skinner, this is the idea that learning takes place through rewards and punishments.
Define the term positive reinforcment.
Is when a reward is given in response to a behaviour, making that behaviour more likely to be repeated. For example, praise from the teacher for answering a question correctly in class.
Define the term negative reinforcement.
It occurs when an animal (or human) avoids something unpleasant. For example, a student handing in homework so as not to get detention, the avoidance of something unpleasant is the negative reinforcement.
Explain Skinner’s test on operant conditioning.
Skinner tested these concept using rats and pigeons. In the ‘Skinner Box’, rats were placed in a box with a lever, light, and electrified floor. If the rat pressed the leaver when the light was off, it would receive a shock (punishment), and if it pressed the leaver when the light was on, it received a food pellet (positive reinforcement). The rats quickly learned to push the switch only when the light was on.
Define the term punishment.
Is an unpleasant consequence makes a behaviour less likely to be repeated. For example, being shouted at the teacher for talking in lesson.
What are the strengths of the behaviourist approach?
Well-controlled research - uses the scientific method, enhancing the replicability and validity of the conclusions drawn.
Real-world application.
Give examples of the real-world application of conditioning.
Token economy system - used in institutions such as prisons and psychiatric wards. These work by rewarding appropriate behaviour with tokens that can be exchanged for privileges.
