The behaviourist approach Flashcards
What are the assumptions of the behavourist approach?
- All behaviour is learnt from interactions with our environment.
- Cross species examination can be conducted as all humans and animals learn in the same way.
- Behaviour should be observable and measurable.
What was meant by Tabula Rasa?
The human mind, particularly at birth, is viewed as having no innate ideas.
What are the two forms of learning proposed by the behaviourists?
Classical conditioning (Ivan Pavlov) and operant conditioning (BF Skinner).
Describe classical conditioning.
Classical conditioning is learning through association.
1. This occurs when a neutral stimulus becomes associated with an unconditioned stimulus resulting in an unconditioned response.
2. This occurs due to regular pairing between the two stimuli.
3. At this stage the previously neutral stimulus is now the conditioned stimulus.
4. The previously unconditioned response is now the conditioned response.
What type of behaviour can classical conditioning be applied to?
Classical conditioning can only be applied to involuntary reflex behaviours (e.g. salivation and fears.)
What is stimulus generalisation?
When the conditioned stimulus could be generalised to other stimuli. This therefore results in the same conditioned response.
What is discrimination?
The stimuli becomes too different from the original stimulus and therefore doesn’t result in the conditioned response.
What is extinction?
The gradual weakening of a conditioned response.
What is spontaneous recovery?
Sudden display of behaviour that was thought to be extinct.
What is operant conditioning?
Learning through consequences.
What is meant by reinforcement and punishment?
Reinforcement: consequence that increases the likelihood of a particular behaviour being repeated.
Punishment: A consequence that decreases the likelihood of a particular behaviour being repeated.
Both reinforcement and punishment can be positive or negative.
Describe the skinner box.
- The rat learned the behaviour of pushing a lever because of the reward (food pellet) this strengthened the behaviour.
- In another experiment the rat recieved an electric shock when pressing the lever. This decreased the behaviour.
What type of behaviour does operant conditioning apply to?
Voluntary responses.
Evaluation
+ The behaviourist approach is based on well controlled research.
+ Operant conditioning forms the basis of token economy systems and can be used to explain and treat phobias and addictions like gambling.
- Whilst use of animal studies reduces demand characteristics and participant variables their behaviour may not generalise. Also these studies lack consideration for ethical issues.
- Based on oversimplified learning processes. Behaviour is reduced to simple components without consideration for human thought.
