The Behaviourist Approach

Question 1

Behaviourist approach

Answer 1

A way of explaining behaviour in terms of what is observable and in terms of learning

Question 2

Classical conditioning

Answer 2

Learning by association. Occurs when 2 stimuli are paired together - unconditioned (unlearned) stimulus and a new ‘neutral’ stimulus. The neutral stimulus eventually produces the same responses that was first produced by the unlearned stimulus alone

Question 3

Operant conditioning

Answer 3

A form of learning in which behaviour is shaped and maintained by its consequences. Possible consequences of behaviour include positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement or punishment

Question 4

Reinforcement

Answer 4

A consequence of behaviour that increases the likelihood of that behaviour being repeated, positive or negative

Question 5

How is the behaviourist approach different to introspection

Answer 5

The behaviourist approach is only interested in studying behaviour that can be observed and measured. Not concerned with investigating mental processes of the mind

Question 6

Why did early behaviourists reject introspection

Answer 6

Early behaviourists such as John B Watson 1913, rejected introspection as it involved too many concepts that were vague and difficult to measure. As a result, behaviourists tried to maintain more control and objectivity so they relied on lab experiments

Question 7

Why was the behaviourists approach tested on different species

Answer 7

Following Darwin, the behaviourists suggested that the basic processes that govern learning are the same in all species

Question 8

What did Pavlovs experiment hold

Answer 8

Pavlov revealed that dogs could be conditioned to salivate to the sound of a bell if that sound was given at the same time as food. Gradually pavlovs dog learned to associate the sound of the bell with the food. So after, every time they heard the bell, they would produce saliva for food

Question 9

What did Palvlovs experiment show

Answer 9

It showed how a neutral stimulus, in this case the bell, can come to elicit a new learned response (conditioned response) through association

Question 10

What did BF skinner (1953) suggest

Answer 10

He suggested that learning is an active process whereby humans and animals operate on their environment

Question 11

3 types of consequence

Answer 11

Positive reinforcement
Negative reinforcement
Punishment

Question 12

What is positive reinforcement

Answer 12

Receiving a reward when a certain behaviour is performed, for example, praise from a teacher for answering question correctly

Question 13

What is negative reinforcement

Answer 13

Occurs when an animal or human avoids something unpleasant. For example a student handing in an essay to avoid punishment

Question 14

What is punishment

Answer 14

Unpleasant consequence of behaviour, for example being shouted at by a teacher

Question 15

What is punishment

Answer 15

Unpleasant consequence of behaviour, for example being shouted at by a teacher

Question 16

How does behaviourism gain scientific credibility for psychology

Answer 16

• Behaviourism was able to bring language and methods from natural sciences into psychology
• this method focused on measurement of observable behaviour within highly controlled lab settings
• emphasised important of scientific processes such as objectivity and replication

Question 17

Examples of behaviourism in relation to real life

Answer 17

Principles of c9nditioning = applied to broad range of real world behaviours and problems.

• token economy system

Question 18

Where does the token economy system work?

Answer 18

This has been used at institutions like prisons and psychiatric systems. They reward people for appropriate behaviour with tokens and they can be exchanged for privileges

Question 19

What does the behaviourist approach see all behaviour as a consequence of

Answer 19

Skinner suggested that everything we do is the sum total of our reinforcement history.

Question 20

Skinners ideas of free will

Answer 20

Skinner suggested that any sense of free will is simply an illusion. When something happens, we impose a sense of having made the discussion but according to skinner, out past conditions)in history determined the outcome

Question 21

Practical issues in experiments

Answer 21

Many saw the experiments with the rats and pigeons as harmful