The Behaviourist Approach

Question 1

Define the Behaviourist approach

Answer 1

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

Question 2

4 Assumptions of the Behaviourist approach

Answer 2

> Only interested in studying behaviour that can be observed and measured
Behaviourists tried to maintain more control in their studies so relied more on lab experiments to conduct their research
They believed that all specimens learn in the same way so often used animals as human substitutes
Behaviourists identified 2 forms of learning: operational and classical conditioning
Early behaviourists, like John Watson (1913), rejected introspection as it was too vague and untestable.

Question 3

What does the Behaviourist appraoch involve?

Answer 3

> Attempt to explain behaviour in terms of learning
They study the changes in behaviour that are caused by a person’s direct experience to their environment, using the principles of classical and operant conditioning.

Question 4

The three consequences of behaviour of Operant conditioning

Answer 4

• Positive Reinforcement
• Negative Reinforcement
• Punishment

Question 5

Summarise positive reinforcement

Answer 5

When a desirable behaviour is followed by a desirable consequence it is positvely reinforced and the likelihood of the behaviour occurring again increases

Question 6

Summarise negative reinforcement

Answer 6

A behaviour is encouraged in attempt to avoid something unpleasant i.e phobias
Not necessarily beneficial

Question 7

Summarise Punishment

Answer 7

When a undesirable behaviour is followed by an undesirable consequence the likelihood of the behaviour repeating is reduced

Answer 8

• Suggests that behaviour is determined by past experiences
• ‘the sum total of our reinforcement histroy’ - Skinner
• Ignores the possibility of Free will influencing our behaviour

Answer 9

• Attempts to explain human behaviour in terms of stimulus-response links that have been learnt through experience
• Over-simplifies complex human behaviours

Answer 10

• Although the experimental procedures maintained a high degree of control
• The animals involved were exposed to stressful and aversive conditions, which may have affected how they reacted to the experimental situations

Answer 11

Animals are psychologically different to humans

Answer 12

• Operant conditioning is the basis of the token economy system, used successfully in institutions, such as prisons and psychiatric hospitals
• Tokens can be earned and exchanged for privileges
• Classical conditioning has successfully been used to treat phobias
• Advantages as less effort is required from the patient, suitable for those who lack insight

Answer 13

• Learnt to fear white, fluffy objects. This supports the role of classical conditioning in learning behaviour

Answer 14

• Was able to bring the language and methods of natural sciences into Psychology
• By emphasising on scientific processes, such as objectivity and replication. It provides scientific credibility, deferring assumptions of human bias