The Behaviourist Approach

Question 1

What are the 4 assumptions of the behaviourist approach?

Answer 1

• 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.

Question 2

What is classical conditioning?

Answer 2

Learning through association

Question 3

Who first demonstrated classical conditioning?

Answer 3

Ivan Pavlov with a dog

Question 4

What did Pavlov show with classical conditioning?

Answer 4

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.

Question 5

What was the process of conditioning in Pavlov’s dog?

Answer 5

UCS= Food
UCR= Salivation
NS= Bell
CS= Bell
CR= Salivation

Question 6

Which other study supports classical conditioning?

Answer 6

Little Albert

Question 7

What is the process of conditioning in the Little Albert study?

Answer 7

UCS= Loud bang
UCR= Fear
NS= White fluffy animal
CS= White fluffy animal
CR= Fear

Question 8

What is stimulus generalisation? Example? (Classical conditioning)

Answer 8

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.

Question 9

What is stimulus discrimination? Example? (Classical conditioning)

Answer 9

When the characteristics of the conditioned stimulus and an object are too different to be generalised. E.g., Little Albert and brown fluffy animals.

Question 10

What is temporal continuity? Example? (Classical conditioning)

Answer 10

UCS and NS need to be presented simultaneously for an association to be made. E.g., Rat and bang // Bell and food.

Question 11

What is extinction? Example? (Classical conditioning)

Answer 11

Extinction is when the CS and UCS are no longer associated. E.g., Ringing bell but not salivating.

Question 12

What is spontaneous recovery? Example? (Classical conditioning)

Answer 12

The reappearance of the CR after a rest period. E.g., Salivating to the bell at a later time.

Question 13

What is operant conditioning?

Answer 13

A form of learning in which behaviour is shaped and maintained by consequences, whether these are positive or negative.

Question 14

What does Skinner identify as the three types of consequences of behaviour?

Answer 14

Positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement and punishment.

Question 15

What was Skinner’s box?

Answer 15

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.

Question 16

What is positive reinforcement? Example?

Answer 16

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.

Question 17

What is negative reinforcement? Example?

Answer 17

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.

Question 18

What is punishment? Example? (OC)

Answer 18

Unpleasant consequence of behaviour. E.g., being shouted at by a teacher in lesson. Decreases the likelihood of the behaviour being performed.

Question 19

What is a primary reinforcer? Example?

Answer 19

Reinforcement is innately reinforcing behaviour. E.g., Smoking for the nicotine hit.

Question 20

What is a secondary reinforcer? Example?

Answer 20

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.

Question 21

Evaluation (Behaviourist) = Scientific credibility?

Answer 21

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.

Question 22

Evalution (Behaviourist) = Real life application

Answer 22

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.

Question 23

Evaluation (behaviourist)- Environmental determinism.

Answer 23

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.