the learning approach; behaviourism✅

Question 1

what does the behaviourist approach believe?

Answer 1

• all behaviour is learnt as direct result from experiences
• all babies are ‘blank slates’

Question 2

what are some key assumptions of the behaviourist approach

Answer 2

• should only observe quantifiable behaviour
• all behaviour is learnt
• humans are no different from animals; should not be regarded as more complex
• animal behaviour research is directly relevant to humans

Question 3

who was one of the first behaviourists to explore the relationship between learning and behaviour

Answer 3

Pavlov

Question 4

describe classical conditioning

Answer 4

• type of learning where involentary reflex is associated with a new stimulus

Question 5

describe the steps in Pavlov’s classical conditioning dog study

Answer 5

1.conditioned dogs to associate sound of a bell (neutral stimulus) with food (unconditioned stimulus)
2.resulted in dogs’ producing salivation response (conditioned response) to sound of bell (conditioned stimulus) even when no food was present

Question 6

give an example of stimulus discrimination regarding Pavlov’s dogs

Answer 6

Pavlov’s dogs did not salivate ot the sound of music

Question 7

give an example of stimulus generalisation regarding Pavlov’s dogs

Answer 7

Pavlov found that dogs would still salivate if he used a different bell with a similar tone to the original

Question 8

give an example of time contiguity regarding Pavlov’s dogs

Answer 8

Pavlov found association only occurs if unconditioned stimulus and neutral stimulus are presented at same time
- if the time gap Is too big no association will be made

Question 9

what did Skinner suggest regarding learning behaviour?

Answer 9

Skinner said behaviour is result of learning through consequences of our actions (operant conditioning)

Question 10

what 3 types of reinforcement affects behaviour according to Skinner?

Answer 10

• positive reinforcement
• negative reinforcement
• punishment

Question 11

describe Skinner’s positive reinforcement

Answer 11

• behaviour is strengthened due to recieving a reward when certain behaviour is performed

Question 12

give an example of positive reinforcement regarding Skinner’s box

Answer 12

in the electrified Skinner box, animals learnt to press the button to be rewarded with food

Question 13

describe Skinner’s negative reinforcement

Answer 13

behaviour is learnt due to removing something unpleasant from a situation

Question 14

give an example of negative reinforcement regarding Skinner’s box

Answer 14

animals learnt to press the level to avoid electric shocks

Question 15

describe Skinner’s punishment

Answer 15

behaviour is weakened due to an unpleasant consequence of a behaviour

Question 16

what are some A03 points of the behaviourist approach?

Answer 16

-✅ study of Albert = supporting evidence
-❌may be other explanations
–> seligman evolutionary
-✅can be scientifically measured

Question 17

describe an A03 point of the behaviourist approach regarding Albert’s supporting evidence ✅

Answer 17

• Watson and Rayner gave toddler rat whilst making loud noise
• little Albert associated rat with fear of loud noise
  -adds validity as it shows behaviour is learnt

Question 18

describe an A03 point of the behaviourist approach regarding other explanations ❌

Answer 18

• seligman suggests behaviour is from evolutionary biology
• behaviour such as phobias is due to biological preparedness
  -decreases validity

Question 19

describe an A03 point of the behaviourist approach regarding testability ✅

Answer 19

• experimental methods used by Pavlov and Skinner = objective dimensions of behaviour
• led to reliable understanding of human behaviour
• helped psych gain status as scientific –> more funds
  -behaviourist = influencial