The Behaviourist Approach Flashcards
What is the behavioural approach?
A way of explaining behaviour in terms of what is observable and in terms of learning
What is classical conditioning?
Learning by association. Occurs when two stimuli are repeatedly paired together - an unconditioned stimulus and a neutral stimulus.
What is operant conditioning?
A form of learning in which behaviour is shaped and maintained by its consequences
What is reinforcement?
A consequence of behaviour that increases the likelihood of that behaviour being repeated. Can be positive or negative.
What do behaviourists believe?
All behaviour is learned
How do behaviourists describe a baby’s mind?
A ‘blank slate’ which is written on by experience
What are two important forms of learning?
Classical conditioning and operant conditioning
Who first demonstrated classical conditioning?
Pavlov (1927)
What did Pavlov show in his research?
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
What was the unconditioned stimulus in Pavlov’s research?
The food
What was the unconditioned response in Pavlov’s research?
Salivation
What was the neutral stimulus in Pavlov’s research?
The bell
What was the conditioned stimulus in Pavlov’s research?
The bell after being paired with food
What was the conditioned response in Pavlov’s research?
Salivation as a response to the bell
What did Skinners suggest about learning?
Learning is an active process whereby humans and animals operate on their environment
What happens in operant conditioning?
Behaviour is shaped by its consequences
What is positive reinforcement?
Receiving an award when a certain behaviour is performed
What is negative reinforcement?
Occurs when an animal (or human) avoids something unpleasant. The outcome is a positive experience
What is an example of negative reinforcement?
When somebody hands in an essay so as to not be told off, the avoidance of something unpleasant is the negative reinforcement
What is punishment?
An unpleasant consequence of behaviour.
How do positive and negative reinforcement correlate with behaviour?
Positive and negative reinforcement increase the likelihood of that behaviour being repeated.
Evaluate the behaviourist approach: well controlled research
P: strength - approach is based on well controlled research
E: behaviourists focused on measurement of observable behaviour within highly controlled lab settings
L: suggests that behaviourists experiments have scientific credibility
Evaluate the behaviourist approach: simplicity
P: behaviourists may have oversimplified the learning process
E: by reducing behaviour to such simple components they may have ignored an important influence on learning - human thought
L: suggests that learning is more complex than observable behaviour alone, private mental processes are essential
Evaluate the behaviourist approach: real-world application
P: strength - principles of conditioning have been applied to real-world behaviours and problems
E: operant conditioning is the basis of token economy systems that have been used successfully.
L: this increases the value of the behaviourist approach as it has widespread application
Evaluate the behaviourist approach: environmental determinism
P: limitation - sees all behaviour as conditioned by past conditioning experiences
E: skinner suggested that everything we do is the sum total of our reinforcement history. This ignores any possible influence that free will may have on behaviour.
L: extreme position and ignores the influence of conscious decision-making processes on behaviour
