The Behaviourist Approach Flashcards
What are the assumptions of the behaviouralist approach
- Behaviour is determined by the environment.
- Only observable behaviour should be measured objectively.
- Behaviour is learnt through classical and operant conditioning.
- Animals can be used in research
alternative/ addition
- our behaviour is all due to learning so free will is not possible
Define Behaviourist approach
the behaviourist approach is a way of explaining behaviour in terms of learning
define classical conditioning
learning by association - It occurs when two stimuli are repeatedly paired together.
An UCS and a NS. The NS eventually produces the same response that was first only produced by the CS.
define operant conditioning
operant conditioning is a form of learning in which behaviour is shaped and maintained by its consequences.
Possible consequences of behaviour include positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, or punishment.
define reinforcement
A consequence of behaviour that increases the likelihood of that behaviour being repeated, it can be positive or negative.
define positive reinforcement
Is recieving a reward when a certain behaviour is performed.
define negative reinforcement
occurs when something unpleasant is avoided
define punishment
Is an unpleasant consequence of behaviour. It decreases the likelihood the behaviour will be repeated.
What does UCS stand for
unconditioned stimulus
what does NS stand for
neutral stimulus
what does CS stand for
conditioned stimulus
define primary reinforcers
w/ example
something which fulfils basic needs
eg. food, water
define secondary reinforcer
w/ example
something that is not essential for survival
eg. phone, money
what are the key features of the behaviourist approach
- Classical conditioning - Pavlov’s dogs
- operant conditioning - skinner’s rats
- behaviour is stimulus-response
describe Pavlov’s dogs
- Pavlov studied the digestion of dogs and noticed that they were salivating even to the footsteps of the researcher.
- The salivation was a reflex - the dogs had learned through associating 2 things together. The dogs had been conditioned to salivate to the sound of footsteps.
- Pavlov realised dogs would salivate to anything associated with food. one of his most famous studies was when he conditioned a dog to salivate to a bell.
This process can be used to explain the reason for abnormal human behaviour
what does UCR stand for
Unconditioned response
what does CR stand for
Conditioned response
what is an unconditioned stimulus
an object or event that produces a response
what is an unconditioned response
a response to an unconditioned stimulus
what is a neutral stimulus
something that does not produce a response
what is a conditioned stimulus
an item that originally didnt produce a response, but does now because it is paired with the unconditioned response
what is a conditioned response
The response to the conditioned stimulus
explain using pavlov’s terms how dog training works
training a dog to salivate at a bell
- before conditioning - Food = UCS, salivation = UCR
- before conditioning - bell ringing = NS
- during conditioning - bell + food = UCR (salivation)
- after conditioning - bell = CR (salivation)
Describe the 3 variations of Skinner’s box
- positive reinforcement - rat pulls lever and gets food
- punishment - rat pulls lever and gets shocked
- negative reinforcement - elecrified box stops shocking when rat pulls lever
Describe Skinner’s box
positive reinforcement variation
original (probably)
Skinner took a rat and put it in a cage, where a lever is placed that it can press. The lever is rigged to a mechanism that dispenses food when pressed. The rat will eventually press the lever either on purpose or by accident. When this happens some food will appear, eventually the rat will connect the lever with the appearacne of food (even if its after a couple goes).
What does positive reinforcement involve
Presenting something the organism wants
What effect does positive reinforcement have on behaviour
Strengthens the behaviour
Describe Skinner’s box
punishment variation
A dirty trick is played on the rat, who is still in a cage with a lever. The mechanism on the lever now gives the rat an electric shock. Very quickly the rat will stop pressing the lever. The shock has acted as a punishment which has the effect of weakening then extinguishing the lever pressing behaviour.
What does punishment involve
presenting something the organism doesnt like
what effect does punishment have on behaviour
weakens the behaviour
Describe skinner’s box
negative reinforcement variation
The rat is now placed in a cage whic hhas its floor electrified with the mechanism altered so that the lever turns off the current. Once the floor is electrified the rat will bounce around and will probably accidentally hit the lever, turning off the current. Eventually the rat will learn to press the lever immediately the current is turned on. (as this variation is done third) the lever pressing behaviour has been re-established and strengthened.
What does negative reinforcement involve
removing something the organism doesnt like
what effect does negative reinforcement have on behaviour
strengthens the behaviour
List 2 strengths of the behaviourist approach
actions should be made to find a 3rd
- uses objective measurements
- real life applications (phobias)
Explain how using scientific methods is a strength of the behaviourist approach
A strength of the behavioural approach is that it introduces scientific credibility by bringing in methods from the natural sciences and focusing on measurement of observable behaviour this is a strength because it emphasises the scientific processes of objectivity and replication which gives psychology greater credibility as a science.
Explain how having real life applications is a strength of the behaviourist approach
A strength of the behaviourist approach is that it has practical applications. Such as using that behaviour is caused by classical conditioning. Which has led to the treatment of systematic desensitisation. This is a strength because systematic desensitisation is effective in treating phobias by helping the individual to unlearn their phobia by gradually exposing them to their phobia whilst they apply relaxation techniques. This means that the behaviourist appraoch is to an extent an accurate explanation of behaviour as it helps to treat people in the real world.
ECONOMIC ADDITION: This, in turn means that these people will be able to function better in everyday life, and may mean that they are able to go to and be more productive in work, increasing wages and tax payments, therefore helping to improve the economy.
List 3 weaknesses of the behaviourist approach
- it ignores mediational processes
- uses animals
- reductionist
explain how ignoring mediational processes is a weakness of the behaviourist approach
A weakness of the behaviouralist approach is that it ignores unobservable factors, this is a weakness because it only provides a partial account of human behaviour this shows it to be an oversimplification as it assumes humans are passive and machine-like in response to their environment this means that the behaviouralist approach should not be used as the only approach to explore psychology as it ignores many factors.
explain how using animals is a weakness of the behaviourist approach
A weakness of the behaviourist approach is it uses animals. This is a weakness because humans and animals are not identical and may not behave in the same way. This means that the results gathered from Skinner and Pavlov may not be applicable to humans making the results invalid.
Explain how being a reductionist approach is a weakness of the behaviourist approach
A weakness of the behaviourist approach is that is is environmentally reductionist. This is a weakness because the approach reduces complex human behaviour down to simple basic units which neglects a holistic approach, which would take in to account how a person’s culture and social context would influence and explain human behaviour. Therefore, the behaviourist explanation of human behaviour may lack validity, as it does not allow us to understand the behaviour in context.
Using the assumption that ‘Behaviour is determined by the environment’ outline the structure used in an essay
Assumption – behaviour is learned from the environment.
Key feature – behaviour is stimulus-response.
Research – Little albert (or Pavlov’s dogs)
Evaluation – helped our understanding of human behaviour as humans can be conditioned.
Evaluation – learned from environment ignores free will and choice in behaviour, also ignores biological processes. So limited contribution to human behaviour.
First evaluation should evaluate the research with link to the assumption
second evaluation should evaluate the assumption with link to the question
Using the assumption that ‘Animals can be used in research’ outline the structure used in an essay
Assumption - Animals can be used in research
Key feature – operant conditioning - skinner’s rats
Research – Skinner’s rats
Evaluation – humans and animals are not identical so results gathered may not be applicable to humans.
Evaluation – behaviourists were seeking general laws of learning that should apply to any animal or person in any situation
First evaluation should evaluate the research with link to the assumption
second evaluation should evaluate the assumption with link to the question
Using the assumption that ‘Only observable behaviour should be measured objectively.’ outline the structure used in an essay
Assumption - only observable behaviour should be measured objectively.
Key feature - classical conditioning - pavlov’s dogs
Research - pavlov’s dogs
Evaluation - due to the objectivity we are able to infer cause and effect
Evaluation - ignores mediational processes
First evaluation should evaluate the research with link to the assumption
second evaluation should evaluate the assumption with link to the question
describe little Albert
- Little albert was a case study conducted by Watson and Rayner 1920.
- Aim was to give Albert a phobia by using classical conditioning. / to investigate whether phobias can be learned.
- Albert showed no anxiety at the beginning of the study when he was introduced to a variety of animals. When shown a white rat he tried to play with it. However, whenever the rat was presented to him after, the experimenters made a loud frightening noise by banging an iron bar close to Alberts head.
- The noise is the UCS which creates an UCR of fear. When the rat the NS and the UCS are encountered close together in time the NS becomes associated with the UCS, and both now produce the fear response – albert became frightened when he saw the rat. The rat is now the CR. This conditioning is generalised to similar objects.
- They tested Albert by showing him other furry objects such as a non-white rabbit, a fur coat and Watson wearing a Santa Claus beard and mask. Little Albert displayed distress at the sight of all of these.
list 3 weaknesses of little Albert’s case study
Weakness - unethical – it doesn’t protect him from psychological harm (doesn’t need a this means that for this precise thing)
Weakness - unethical - the experimentors don’t recondition him to not be frightened.
Weakness - Method – lab created fear so may not reflect phobias in real life.
What are the strengths for little Albert’s case study
Strength - shows that phobias can be learnt
Strength - uses a human to explain humans rather than an animal study so results are applicable
What are the peices of research for the behaviourist approach
- Pavlov’s dogs
- Skinner’s rats
- Little Albert
