The behaviourist Theory-approaches in psychology Flashcards
What does behaviourists approach mean?
A way of explaining behaviour in terms of what is observable and in terms of learning
What does classical conditioning mean?
Learning by association. Occurs when two stimuli are repeatedly paired together- an unconditioned (unlearned) stimulus
(UCS) and a new ‘neutral’ stimulus. The neutral stimulus eventually produces the same response that was first produced by the unlearned stimulus alone.
What does operant conditioning?
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.
What does reinforcement mean?
A consequence of behaviour that increases the likelihood of that behaviour being repeated. Can be positive or negative.
What are the assumptions of the behaviourist approach?
The behaviourist approach is only interested in studying behaviour that can be observed and measured. It is not concerned with investigating mental processes of the mind. 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 within their research and relied on Lab experiments as the best way to achieve this.
-Following Darwin behaviourists suggested that the basic processes that govern learning are the same in all species. This meant that in behaviourist research, animals could replace humans as experimental subjects. Behaviourist identified two important forms of learning: classical conditioning and operant conditioning.
How is classical conditioning part of the behaviourist approach?
Classical conditioning is learning through association and was first demonstrated by Ivan Pavlov revealed that 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. Gradually, Pavlov’s dogs learned to associate the sound of the bell ( a stimulus) with the food (another stimulus) and would produce the salivation response every time they heard the sound.
- Thus, Pavlov was able to show how a neutral stimulus, in this case a bell, can come to elicit a new learned response (conditioned response) through association
How is operant conditioning part of behaviourists approach?
BF Skinner (1953) suggested that learning is an active process whereby humans and animals operate on their environment. In operant conditioning there are three types of consequence of behaviour:
- Positive reinforcement is receiving a reward when a certain behaviour is performed; for example, praise from a teacher for answering a question correctly in class
- Negative reinforcement occurs when an human avoids something unpleasant. When a student hands in an essay so as not to be told off, the avoidance of something unpleasant is the negative reinforcement. Similarly, a rat may learn through negative reinforcement that pressing a lever leads to avoidance of an electric shock.
- Punishment is an unpleasant consequence of behaviour, for example being shouted at by the teacher for talking during a lesson . Finding a way to avoid that would be negative reinforcement. Positive and negative reinforcement increase the likelihood that behaviour will be repeated. Punishment decreases the likelihood that behaviour will be repeated.
How is scientific credibility a strength for the behaviourist approach?
Behaviourism was able to bring the language and methods of the nautral sciences into psychology by focusing on the measurement of observable behaviour within highly controlled lab settings. By emphasising the importance of scientific processes such as objectivity and replication, behaviourism was influential in the development of psychology as a scientific discipline, giving it greater credibility and status.
How is real life application a strength for behaviourist approach?
The principle of conditioning have been applied to a broad range of real world behaviours and problem. For instance, operant conditioning is the basis of token economy systems that have been used successfully in institutions, such as prisons and psychiatric wards. These work by rewarding appropriate behaviour with tokens that can then be exchanged for privileges. For an example of how classical conditioning has been applied to the treatment of phobias.
- Treatment such as these have the advantages of requiring less effort from a patient because the patient doesn’t have to think about their problem. Such therapies are also suitable for patients who lack insight
How is a mechanistic view of behaviour a limitations for behaviourists approach?
From a behaviourist perceptive, humans are seen as passive and machine-like responders to the environment, with little or no conscious insight into their behaviour. Other approaches in psychology such as the social learning theory and the cognitive approach, have emphasised the importance of mental events during learning.
These processes which mediate between stimulus and response suggest that people may play a much more active role in their own learning. This means that learning theory may apply less to human than to animal behaviour
How is environmental determinism a limitation for behaviourist approach?
The behaviourist approach sees all behaviour as determined by past experiences that have been conditioned. 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. Skinner suggested that any sense of free will is simply an illusion. When something happens we impose a sense of having made the decision but according to Skinner, our past conditioning history determined the outcome.
How is an ethical and practical issues in animal experiment a limitation for behaviourist approach?
Although experimental procedure such as the Skinner Box enabled behaviourists to maintain a high degree of control over their experimental subjects, many critics have questioned the ethics of conducting such investigations. The animals involved were exposed to stressful and aversive conditions which may also have affected how they reacted to the experimental situation.
