the behaviourist approach Flashcards
what is the behaviourist approach?
a way of explaining behaviour in terms of what is observable and in terms of learning
what type of behaviour is the behaviourist approach interested in?
observable and measurable
what is seen as irrelevant in the behaviourist approach?
mental processes
what do behaviourists want to maintain throughout reasearch and how?
control and objectivity through lab studies
what are used as experimental subjects in behaviourist research? why?
animals replace humans as behaviourists suggest that the basic processes that govern learning are the same in all species
what 2 types of learning have behaviourists identified?
classical and operant conditioning
what is classical conditioning based on?
learning through association
who demonstrated classical conditioning?
pavlov
describe pavlov’s research
pavlov showed how dogs could be conditioned to salivate to the sound of a bell if that sound was repeatedly presented at the same time as they were given food. Gradually the dogs learned to ASSOCIATE the sound with food and would salivate whenever they heard the bell even ion there wasn’t any food.
what did Pavlov show through his research?
showed how a neutral stimulus, the bell, can come to elicit a new learned response, a conditioned response, through association
who demonstrated operant conditioning?
skinner
what did skinner suggest?
learning is an active process whereby humans and animals OPERATE on their environment. Behaviour is shaped by its consequences
what is positive reinforcement?
receiving a reward when a certain behaviour is performed, eg answering a question correctly and receiving praise from teacher
what is negative reinforcement?
occurs when an animal or human avoids something unpleasant so the outcome is positive. Eg, handing in homework to avoid being told off
what is punishment?
an unpleasant consequence of behaviour, eg being shouted at for not handing in homework