The Learning Approach Flashcards
What is the behaviourist approach?
A way of explaining behaviour in terms of what is observable and in terms of learning
What is classical conditioning?
Learning by association - two stimuli repeatedly put together - unconditioned stimulus as a new neutral stimulus
What is operant conditioning?
Form of learning in which behaviour is shaped and maintained by its consequences
Why did Watson reject introspection?
Involved too many concepts that were big and difficult to measure
What did they use in their research?
Animals
Who demonstrated classical conditioning?
Pavlov through dogs
What did Pavlov reveal?
Dogs could be conditioned to salivate to the sound of a bell if that sound was repeatedly presented when giving food
What did the dogs in Pavlov lead to associate?
The sound of the bell with food - would produce saliva every time they heard a bell
What did skinner 1953 suggest?
That learning is an active process whereby humans and animals operate on their environment
What are the three consequences in operant conditioning?
- Positive reinforcement
- Negative reinforcement
- Punishment
What does punishment and reinforcement increase the likelihood of?
That behaviour will be repeated
What did skinner conduct experiments on with the Skinner box?
Rats/pigeons - every time the rat activated the lever in the box it was rewarded with a food plate
What did skinner show?
rats could be conditioned to perform the same behaviour
What is the behaviourist approach only focused on?
Studying behaviour that can be observed and measured
