The Behaviourist Approach Flashcards
Classical conditioning
Learning through association- two stimuli are paired to produce the same response
Process of classical conditioning
UCS → UCR
UCS + NS → UCR
CS → CR
Extinction
When we stop showing a CR in response to a CS as the CS is no longer presented alongside the UCS
Spontaneous recovery
The immediate return of a CR when a CS is presented alongside a UCS after a period of extinction
Generalisation
When a CR is demonstrated in response to a stimuli that is similar to the
CS
Psychodynamic approach (early 20th century)
- Adopted a form of empiricism
- focused on the unconscious mind
Empiricism
Knowledge gained from sensory experiences
Behaviourist approach ( 1910)
- Investigated observable and measurable behaviours
- Lab experiments-high level of control over variables
Humanistic approach (1950s)
- Used empiricism
-Less scientific in its study of human behaviour
Cognitive approach (1960s)
- Applied operationalisation to internal mental processes
Operationalisation
Clearly defining variables so that they can be measured numerically and specifically
Biological approach (1980s)
How neurotransmitters influence behaviour
- measuring the physiological processes within the body
- High control of variables
- drug use to investigate cause and effect relationships between biochemical and thoughts / behaviours
Operational conditioning
Learning through consequence
Positive reinforcement
Receiving a pleasant experience as a result of performing a desired behaviour
This increases the frequency of the desired behaviour
Negative reinforcement
Removal of an unpleasant experience as a result of performing a desired behaviour
This increases the frequency of the desired behaviour
Punishment
Receiving an unpleasant experience as a result of performing an undesirable behaviour
This reduces the frequency of the undesirable behaviour
Strengths of the behaviourist approach
Use of scientific methodology
Has real life applications
Supported by research from Pavlov and Skinner
Limitations of the behaviourist approach
Extrapolates from animal research
Theory is reductionist
Assumptions of the behavionst approach
Behaviour is learned from experience so can be changed
Genetics don’t influence behaviour (tabula rasa)
Animals have the same learning processes as humans
