The Behaviourist Approach Flashcards
What are the 4 assumptions of the behaviourist approach?
- Focus on observable behaviour only.
- Animals and humans learn in the same way so behaviourists carry out experiments on animals and extrapolate the results to humans.
- All behaviours are learnt through our environment.
- Psychology should be scientific and objective therefore behaviourists mainly use lab experiments.
What is classical conditioning?
Learning through association
Who first demonstrated classical conditioning?
Ivan Pavlov with a dog
What did Pavlov show with classical conditioning?
Showed dogs could be conditioned to salivate at the sound of a bell if that sound was repeatedly presented at the same time as they were given food.
What was the process of conditioning in Pavlov’s dog?
UCS= Food
UCR= Salivation
NS= Bell
CS= Bell
CR= Salivation
Which other study supports classical conditioning?
Little Albert
What is the process of conditioning in the Little Albert study?
UCS= Loud bang
UCR= Fear
NS= White fluffy animal
CS= White fluffy animal
CR= Fear
What is stimulus generalisation? Example? (Classical conditioning)
If a stimulus is similar to the conditioned stimulus, then the association will still be made. E.g., Little Albert and other white fluffy things.
What is stimulus discrimination? Example? (Classical conditioning)
When the characteristics of the conditioned stimulus and an object are too different to be generalised. E.g., Little Albert and brown fluffy animals.
What is temporal continuity? Example? (Classical conditioning)
UCS and NS need to be presented simultaneously for an association to be made. E.g., Rat and bang // Bell and food.
What is extinction? Example? (Classical conditioning)
Extinction is when the CS and UCS are no longer associated. E.g., Ringing bell but not salivating.
What is spontaneous recovery? Example? (Classical conditioning)
The reappearance of the CR after a rest period. E.g., Salivating to the bell at a later time.
What is operant conditioning?
A form of learning in which behaviour is shaped and maintained by consequences, whether these are positive or negative.
What does Skinner identify as the three types of consequences of behaviour?
Positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement and punishment.
What was Skinner’s box?
Used when conducting experiments on rats and pigeons. Use to show positive and negative reinforcement. Positive - pulling lever for food pellet. Negative- pulling lever to avoid unpleasant shock.
What is positive reinforcement? Example?
Anything pleasant that is given to you when a desired behaviour is performed. (Getting a reward). This increases the probability of the behaviour being repeated. E.g., eating all your tea leads to dessert.
What is negative reinforcement? Example?
When something unpleasant is removed or avoided after the desired behaviour is performed. This also increases the chance of the behavior being repeated. E.g., Bringing homework to not get detention.
What is punishment? Example? (OC)
Unpleasant consequence of behaviour. E.g., being shouted at by a teacher in lesson. Decreases the likelihood of the behaviour being performed.
What is a primary reinforcer? Example?
Reinforcement is innately reinforcing behaviour. E.g., Smoking for the nicotine hit.
What is a secondary reinforcer? Example?
Stimulus that reinforces behaviour after being associated with a primary reinforcer. E.g., Verba praise. Giving your dog a treat and calling him a good boy.
Evaluation (Behaviourist) = Scientific credibility?
It brought the natural sciences into psychology by focusing on observable behaviour in lab experiments. By emphasising the importance of scientific processes such as objectivity and replication, it was influential in the development of psychology as a scientific discipline.
Evalution (Behaviourist) = Real life application
Applied to broad range of behaviours and problems. E.g., OC is the basis of the token economy taht have been used in institutions such as prisons. Rewarding with tokens that can be exchanged for privileges. CC has also been used to treat phobias. The advantages of this are that it requires less effort from the patient.
Evaluation (behaviourist)- Environmental determinism.
See all behaviour as determined by past experiences and due to reinforcement history- it ignores free will. Skinner argues free will is an illusion- we think we had a choice, but past conditioning determined our behaviour.
