The behaviourist approach

Question 1

What is the Tabula Rose assumption

Answer 1

• We are born as a blank slate with no innate psychological traits or abilities
• Therefore all our psychological characteristics are learnt

Question 2

What is the psychology as a science assumption

Answer 2

• Psychology should stick to the empirical scientific method and study what can be observed
• The principle research method should be lab experiments

Question 3

What is the learning via conditioning assumption

Answer 3

• Human behaviour is learnt through conditioning
• -> classical conditioning- learning via association
• -> Operant conditioning- learning via reward and punishment

Question 4

What is the law of learning applying to animals assumptions

Answer 4

• Behaviourists draw no distinction between humans and other animals
• This means we can generalise findings as we function in the same way

Question 5

What is an unconditioned response

Answer 5

Unlearned response which occurs naturally in reaction to the unconditioned stimulus

Question 6

What is classical conditioning

Answer 6

Learning through association
When two stimuli are repeatedly paired together. A neutral stimulus becomes associated with an unconditional stimuli and cause the same response

Question 7

What is an unconditioned stimulus

Answer 7

Stimulus which leads to an automatic response

Question 8

What is a neutral stimulus

Answer 8

A stimulus providing no response

Question 9

What is a conditioned response

Answer 9

A previously neutral stimulus that after becoming associated with the unconditioned stimulus. Triggers a conditioned response

Question 10

What is a conditioned response

Answer 10

A learned response to the conditioned stimulus

Question 11

What is operant conditioning

Answer 11

Learning as a result of reward and punishment

Question 12

What is positive reinforcement

Answer 12

Pleasant consequence of a behaviour makes the behaviour more likely

Question 13

What is negative reinforcement

Answer 13

Behaviour results in removal of an unpleasant consequence making the behaviour more likely

Question 14

What is punishment

Answer 14

Unplesant consequence of a behaviour making it less likely.

Question 15

Strengths of the behaviourist approach

Answer 15

+highly scientific- High control in lab experiments- supports validity
+Huge range of practical applications- Can be applied to therapy e.g treatments for phobias

Question 16

Limitations of the behaviourist approach

Answer 16

• Mechanistic view on behaviour- suggests no role for emotion in explaining human behaviour
• lack of evidence for extreme position on the nature/nurture debate- ignores other factors
• Relies on controlled lab experiments with animal subjects- we cannot generalise