The behaviourist approach Flashcards

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1
Q

Defining features of learning theories:

A
  • behaviour is learned through experiences and interactions with the environment
  • Pavlov and Skinner lead theorists
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2
Q

what are stimulus response mechanisms?

A
  • only possible to scientifically investigate what can be directly observed and measured
  • what you do to something living and how it reacts
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3
Q

how are internal mental processes rejected?

A
  • mind cant be directly observed
  • argue it is a ‘black box’
  • not suitable for scientific study
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4
Q

what is environmental determinism?

A
  • behaviour is the result of experience
  • behaviour can be predicted and controlled by manipulating the environment
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5
Q

what is classical conditioning by pavlov?

A
  • learning by association
  • unconditioned response can be triggered by a neutral stimulus through repeated pairing
  • soon the neutral stimulus alone triggers a conditioned response
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6
Q

what was pavlovs research?

A
  • neutral stimulus (metronome) that didnt give significant response
  • unconditioned stimuli (food) that naturally gave a reflexive response (salvation)
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7
Q

Pavlovs procedure:

A
  • paired neutral stimulus w unconditioned stimulus over several trials
  • neutral stimulus presented just before unconditioned stimulus
  • recoded dogs salivary responses
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8
Q

Pavlovs findings:

A
  • dogs began to salivate bc of metronome and not just food
  • even when food wasnt present
  • dogs learned to associate the neutral stimulus with food
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9
Q

what is operant conditioning?

A
  • learning by reinforcement
  • does voluntary responses and learns by the consequences of those actions
  • rewards= reinforce behaviour
  • punishment= behaviour performed less
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10
Q

What was Skinners research?

A
  • involved rats and pigeons
  • used ‘skinner box’
  • controlled environment used to study operant conditioning
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11
Q

Skinner’s procedure:

A
  • animals placed in skinner box without prior training
  • observed how the animals learned to operate leavers to gain rewards or avoid punishment
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12
Q

Skinner’s findings:

A
  • behaviour is influenced by the consequences that follow
  • rewarding consequences= more likely to be repeated
  • undesirable consequences= less likely to occur
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13
Q

types of reinforcement?

A
  • positive reinforcement
  • negative reinforcement
  • punishment
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14
Q

what is positive reinforcement?

A
  • adding a pleasant stimulus to encourage a desired behaviour
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15
Q

what is negative reinforcement?

A
  • removing an unpleasant stimulus to encourage the behaviour
  • e.g. skinner gave an uncomfy electric shock but when the animal pushed the lever the shock stopped
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16
Q

what is punishment?

A
  • discourages behaviour
  • positive= adding unpleasant stimulus following undesired behaviour
  • negative= removing a pleasant stimulus
17
Q

what is extinction?

A
  • if the reinforcing consequences stop
  • then the person or animal will stop performing the behaviour
18
Q

what is behaviour shaping?

A
  • it is possible to train animals to perform complex behaviours through operant conditioning
  • simple behaviours are rewarded
  • then behaviours that are closer to the desired behaviour are rewarded
19
Q

Classical conditioning: involuntary response

A
  • unconditioned and conditioned reflex like responses are automatic
  • not under control of the organism
  • dogs doesn’t decide to drool at metronome it just happens
20
Q

Operant conditioning: voluntary response

A
  • behaviours are controlled by the organism
  • produce behaviour with an understanding that certain consequences follow
  • operates on environment
  • to gain reward or avoid consequence
21
Q

classical conditioning: acquisition of response

A
  • explains how automatic responses happen through association with new stimuli
  • initial learning phase
  • two stimuli linked together= new learned response
22
Q

operant conditioning: maintenance of responses

A
  • explains how behaviours are continued or modified over time based on the types of reinforcement
23
Q

Evaluations: strength, scientific

A
  • studies objective variables and measurable stimulus response mechanisms
  • measure systematically in highly controlled lab experiments
  • use standardised procedures
  • pavlov and skinners work=replicated
24
Q

Evaluations: limitations, lack generalisatability

A
  • animal findings may not be generalisable to human behaviour
  • complex social and cultural forces behaviour
  • humans= more illegent
  • simple S-R mechanisms may not adequately explain human behaviour
25
Q

Evaluations: strength, practical applications

A
  • several practical applications
  • counter conditioning treatments
  • token economy
  • effecting in reducing maladaptive behaviour
  • suggests behaviourist principles they’re based on are valid
26
Q

Evaluations: strengths, unethical to apply to humans

A
  • behvaioural modification techniques from studying animals is unethical to apply to humans
  • manipulative and potentially harmful
27
Q

Evaluations: limitations, reductionist

A
  • behaviourists explaining behaviour through just S-R= reductionist
  • human behaviours like justice, culture and self sacrifice are too complex to be bc of reinforcement
  • environmentally reductionist explanation ignores other explanations that have evidence
28
Q

Evaluations: limitations, reductionist

A
  • behaviourists explaining behaviour through just S-R= reductionist
  • human behaviours like justice, culture and self sacrifice are too complex to be bc of reinforcement
  • environmentally reductionist explanation ignores other explanations that have evidence