The behaviouristic approach

Question 1

Who is the founder of behaviourism?

Answer 1

Watson

Question 2

Define behaviourism

Answer 2

It is the theory that behaviour should only be studied in terms of conditioning without taking into consideration thoughts or feelings ,and that psychological disorders are best treated with altering behavioural patterns.

Question 3

Does behaviourism focus more on subjectivity or objectivity?

Answer 3

Objectivity and Observations because behaviourism focuses that our human behaviour is mostly acquired through learning

Question 4

What aspect did the behaviourists ignore regarding human learning, and who came up with it?

Answer 4

That human learning is acquired through imitating the behaviour of others.

Bandura in his social learning theory.

Question 5

What 3 things does behaviourism focus on?

Answer 5

Classical conditioning
Operant conditioning
Social learning theory

Question 6

Define classical conditioning

Answer 6

(Pavlov): the association between a stimulus and a response

Question 7

Define operant conditioning

Answer 7

(Skinner): when we learn to behave in certain ways due to either positive or negative reinforcement that lead to changes in behaviour

Question 8

Define Social learning theory

Answer 8

(Bandura): behaviour which has been shaped by imitating and observing the behaviour of others

Question 9

Give a more detailed definition of classical conditioning

Answer 9

Learning in which responses (ex: salivation) are associated with a new or conditioned stimulus

Question 10

Define unconditioned stimulus

Answer 10

A stimulus which unconditionally and automatically triggers a response

Question 11

Define an unconditioned response/reflex

Answer 11

An unconditioned response that has been caused by an unconditioned stimulus.
For example: someone claps near your face and you blink (something innate and biological)
ex: a perfume (unconditioned stimulus) which can trigger happinness or desire (unconditioned response)

Question 12

Define conditioned stimulus

Answer 12

A neutral stimulus which is paired with an unconditioned stimulus that will trigger the conditioned response (classical conditioning)

Question 13

Define conditioned response

Answer 13

A conditioned response is caused by a conditioned stimulus.
The learned response a s a result of classical conditioning
Ex: A perfume (US) might be associated with a specific person (CS)
A stomach (US) virus might be associated with a speciifc food such as eating chocolate (CS)

Question 14

Define neutral stimulus

Answer 14

A stimulus that does not elicit a particular response in a specific situation

Question 15

Define stimulus generalization

Answer 15

Example of little albert

A conditioned response to one object is shown in the presence of similar stimuli which triggers similar responses

Question 16

Define discrimination

Answer 16

the ability to dinstguish between between a similar stimulus and responding only to certain stimuli, not to those that are similar.

Ex: your ex-boyfriend’s name is Mike and you had a very ad relationship with him, and whenever you think of him you start to feel very anxious and angry. Time passes and you happen to meet another guy named Mike as well,at first yo start to feel cautious of this new Mike, but then you learn to discriminate that this Mike doesn’t have to do with Mike (your ex boyfriend)

Question 17

Define extinction

Answer 17

The disappearance of the unconditioned stimulus makes the conditioned response stop.

For example: If the bell tone is presented several times, without the presentation of food, the dog will stop salivating

Question 18

Define spontaneous recovery

Answer 18

The reaaprence of the conditioned response after an extended period of extinction.
Ex: learning French