The behaviourist approach - AO1 Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

What are the three assumptions of the behaviorist theory?

A
  • We are born as a “blank slate” and all behaviours (save a few innate reflexes) are learnt
  • All species (humans and animals) learn in the same way, through stimulus response reactions
  • The mind is irrelevant as internal processes cannot be directly observed - not objective
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are the methods of the behaviourist approach?

3x

A
  • Mainly controlled laboratory experiments
  • Produce quantifiable data: numerical observation
  • Use animals to study something
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is classical conditioning?

A

Learning by association

  • Two stimuli are repeatedly paired together and linked to a natural response
  • Mostly explains aqcuisition of behaviour
  • Learning is unconscious and involuntary
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What did Pavlov (1927) do?

A
  • When dogs see food - UCS - they automatically salivate - an UCR
  • NS (e.g a bell) does not produce salivation
  • During conditioning, food (leads to UCR) was repeatedly paired with the sound of a bell (NS)
  • Eventually, the dogs would salivate to the sound of the bell alone, as they associated the bell with food
  • Bell had become a CS and salivation a CR
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is operant conditioning?

A

Learning by consequences

  • Behaviours are rewarded to increase the likliehood of them happening again or, punished to reduce the behaviour
  • Explains maintenence of behaviour
  • Learning is conscious and voluntary
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What did Skinner (1953) do?

A
  1. Placed a hungry rat in a Skinner’s box (controlled environment) containing a lever
  2. Rat explored the box, trying to escape, critically pushing the lever by accident
  3. The behaviour of pushing the lever would either be increased or decreased
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is positive reinforcement?

In skinner’s study

A

Pressing the gave rat reward of food pellets - increased pushing lever

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is negative reinforcement?

In skinner’s study

A

Pressing lever would prevent an electric shock when a light came on - increase pushing lever

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is punishment?

In Skinner’s study

A

Pressing lever caused electric shock - decreased pushing lever

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly