The Behaviourist Approach Flashcards
How is behaviour learnt?
As Aladdin theory behaviourist argue that behaviour is learnt through experiences and interaction with the environment.
Ivan Pavlov [classical conditioning] and Skinner [Operant conditioning] were leading theorists
What is a stimulus - response mechanisms:
Behaviourist argue is only possible to scientifically investigate what can be directly observed and measure this includes what you do to creature [stimulus] and the resulting behaviour [response]
Rejection of internal mental process
As a man cannot be directly observed behaviourist argue it is a” black box” not suitable for scientific study
Environmental determinism
Benaviourists argue benaviour is the result of experience; they believe that behaviour can be predicted and controlled by manipulating the environment
Pavlov, classical conditioning
- The dogs in pavlov-s Dress the research produced celebrity before seeing us smelling food suggesting they had formed at temporal association between the sound of researchers walking down the hall and food
What does classical conditioning argue about an unconditioned response
Argues an unconditioned response (e.g. Celebrating to food) can be triggered by neutral stimulus (e.g. The sound of footsteps.) three repeated pairing eventually the neutral stimulus alone produces the conditioned response (e.g. Celebrated to the metronome’s sound)
Pavlov’s Research
This research used two types of stimuli (a neutral stimulus e.g. a metronome) that initially did not produce a significant response, and unconditioned stimuli (e.g. food) naturally triggered a reflex response (salvation) in dogs
_ Procedure: Pavlov paired the neutral stimulus with the unconditioned stimulus over several trials. The neutral stimulus was presented just before the unconditioned stimulus. Pavlov recorded the dogs salivary response.
_ Findings: Pavlov observed that the dogs began to salvage not only in the response to the food [unconditioned stimulus] response to the neutral stimulus [ the metronome] Even when the fee was not presented this indicate that the dogs had learnt to associate the neutral stimulus with the food
What is an operant conditioning ?
[Learning by reinforcement] when a creature performs voluntary responses it learns from the consequences of these actions consequences that are rewarding reinforce. A behaviour survey are performed more frequently and actions that result in consequences that are punishing are performed less.
Skinner’s research
-often involve rats and pigeons he is famous for using the “skinner box’’ a controlled environment design to study operant conditioning
Procedure: Animals [e.g. Rats] Place in the skin box without prior training Skinner them observed animals learnt to operate levers to receive a reward [food] Or avoid punishment
- findings: skinner demonstrates of that behaviour is influenced by the consequences that follow behaviour follow by rewarding consequences are more likely to be repeated [reinforced]while those underdesirable consequences are less likely to recur
Types of reinforcement: positive reinforcement
- Adding a pleasant stimulus (A reward),to encourage a desired behaviour
Types of reinforcement: negative reinforcement
- Removing an un pleasant stimulus to encourage the behaviour [ skinner modified his skinner boxes to give an uncomfortable electric shock through cage wires when an animal push the lever shock stop]
Types of punishment:
Punishment [discourages the behaviour]
Positive punishment
- Adding an unpleasant stimulus (e.g. a consequence) following an undesired behaviour
Negative punishment
- Removing a pleasant stimulus [e.g. Max doesn’t listen in a result he got his phone taken off him]
Extinction
If the reinforcing consequences stop when the person animal will start performing the behaviour
Behaviour shaping
Is possible to train animals to perform complex behaviours through operant condition. First simple behaviours are rewarded than behaviours that are closer to the desired behaviour are rewarded
Evaluation of behaviourist approach (strengths)
-Positive Aspect of Behaviourist Research: Behaviourist research is scientific because it studies observable and measurable stimulus-response mechanisms. It establishes cause-and-effect relationships through controlled lab experiments with standardized procedures, allowing re-plication. This improves psychology’s scientific status and its recognition as a distinct field.
-Practical Applications: Behaviour theory has practical applications, such as effective conditioning treatments in prisons and class management. These successful applications reduce maladaptive behaviours, supporting the validity of behaviour principles.
