the behaviourist approach Flashcards
what are some key assumptions of the behaviourist approach?
primarily concerned with observable behaviour, which can be objectively and scientifically measured
behaviour must be measured in highly controlled environments
research can take place on animals or humans
behaviour is the result of stimulus
all behaviour is learnt from the environment
what is meant by classical conditioning?
learning by association between stimulus and response
how does classical conditioning occur?
ucs = ucr
ns + ucs = ucr
*ns can become cs after conditioning
cs = cr
what is meant by generalisation?
when stimuli similar to the cs produces the cr
what is meant by discrimination?
when stimuli similar to the cs does not produce the cr
what is meant by extinction?
when cr isnt’t produced as a result of the cs
what is meant by spontaneous recovery?
when an extinct cr is produced in response to a cs
who researched into classical conditioning?
pavlov (1927)
what did pavlov first outline?
that meat caused the dog to salivate
ucs (food) = ucr (saliva)
what was the neutral stimulus pavlov introduced?
a bell tone
how did pavlov condition the dog?
presented food with bell tone. dog salivating in response to food ucs (food) + ns (bell) = ucr (saliva)
what happened after several pairings of classical conditioning?
dog salivated to bell alone
cs (bell) = cr (saliva)
what is meant by operant conditioning?
learning through the use of consequences, in order to modify or shape behaviour
what is meant by positive reinforcement?
receiving a reward to increase the likelihood of repeating a behaviour
what is meant by negative reinforcement?
removing something to increase the likelihood of repeating a behaviour
what is meant by positive punishment?
being given something to reduce a behaviour
what is meant by negative punishment?
taking away something to reduce a behaviour
who researched into operant conditioning?
skinner (1953)
describe the equipment skinner used in his study
the skinner box - a small box designed to hold a rat, contained a lever, an electric floor, sound system, signal lights and a pellet dispenser
how did skinner show positive reinforcement?
skinner placed a hungry rat in the box and it would soon discover pushing the lever released a food pellet. soon it realised the connection and would repeat the behaviour
how did skinner show negative reinforcement?
played a loud unpleasant noise in the box which would stop when the rat pressed the lever, again the rat learnt the connection quickly and repeated the behaviour
how did skinner show punishment?
when the rat pressed the lever it would receive an electric shock, it soon learn the connection and stopped pushing the lever
strengths of behaviourism
real world applications - token economy systems successfully used in prisons - increases value of approach
well controlled research - careful measurement of observable behaviour in a lab setting. broken down behaviour into SR units and studied relationships - suggests scientific credibility
clear use of experimental method
limitations of behaviourism
not always easy to establish link between unconditioned and conditioned stimuli
research not on humans - cannot generalise easily
artificial conditions used so cannot be sure this theory represents real life behaviour
nature concept neglecting the idea of being born with innate behaviour
