The Behaviourists Approach Flashcards
Assumptions
-studies behaviour that can be observed and measured. Not concerned with investigating mental processes of the mind because they were irrelevant.
-John B Watson rejected introspection as it involved too many concepts which were vague and difficult to measure. Therefore behaviourists tried to maintain more control and objectivity within their research and relied on lab studies.
-Behaviourists believe all behaviour is learned. Babies mind is ‘blank slate’ which is written on by experience.
-Following Darwin, behaviourists suggested that the basic processes that govern learning are the same in all species-use animals in experiments instead of humans. They identified two important forms of learning- classical conditioning and operant conditioning.
Classical conditioning- Pavlov’s research
Learned through association-Pavlov showed how dogs could be conditioned to salivate to the sound of a bell. Pavlovs dogs learned to associate the sound of the bell with food. Originally food was unconditioned stimulus and bell was neutral stimulus, when associated the bell became a conditioned stimulus which produced a conditioned response.
Operant conditioning-Skinners research
Skinner suggested learning is an active process where humans and animals operate in their environment. Behaviour is shaped by consequences.
Positive reinforcement-receiving a reward when a certain behaviour is performed.
Negative reinforcement- when an animal or human avoids something unpleasant. Outcome is a positive experience. Like a student handing in an essay not to be told off.
Punishment-Unpleasant consequence of behaviour.
Positive and negative reinforcement increase likelihood that behaviour will be repeated. Punishment decreases.
Skinners box
Rats placed in box where pressing lever gave them food.
Also showed how rats would avoid unpleasant stimulus like shocks.
Strength-well controlled research
Behaviourists focused on measurement of observable behaviour within lab. By breaking down behaviour into basic stimulus-response units, all other possible extraneous variables were removed, allowing cause and effect relationships to be established, like Skinner. Therefore experiments have scientific credibility.
Counterpoint-may be oversimplified. By reducing behaviour to such simple components, behaviourists may have ignored an important influence on learning- human thought. SLT and cognitive approach have drawn attention to the mental processes involved in learning. Suggests learning is more complex than behaviour alone, and that private mental processes are also essential.
Strength- real world application
Operant conditioning is the basis of token economy systems that have been used successfully in institutions, such as prisons and psychiatric wards. Reward appropriate behaviour with tokens that can be exchanged for privileges.
Limitation- environmental determinism
Sees all behaviour as conditioned by past experiences. Skinner suggested that everything we do is the sum total of our reinforcement history. When something happens we may think we made the decision to do that, but not skinner. Ignores free will determining our behaviour. Skinner said free will is an illusion.
Limitation- ethical issues
Investigations where animals were housed in harsh, cramped conditions and deliberately kept below their natural weight so they were always hungry.- Skinner and Pavlov
