the learning approach: behaviourism

Question 1

the behaviour approach is an approach to explaining behaviour which suggests that

Answer 1

all behaviour is acquired and maintained through classical and operant conditioning

Question 2

hence only behaviour which can be objectively measured and observed is studied as demonstrated by skinners box , this is due to

Answer 2

the founders of behaviourism , Watson and skinner , disagreeing with the subjective nature of Wundts introspective methods , and inability to form general laws

Question 3

from a behaviourist perspective the basic laws governing learning are the same across both non humans and humans , therefore

Answer 3

non human animals can replace humans in behaviourist experimental research

Question 4

classical conditioning

Answer 4

a type of learning which occurs through assosications made between the UCS and the NS

Question 5

process of classical conditioning

Answer 5

before conditioning the UCS produces the UCR
during conditioning the NS us repeatedly paired with UCS producing a UCR
after conditioning the NS become the CS producing CR

Question 6

pavlov demonstrated that dogs could be conditioned to salivate upon hearing a bell using this method ;

Answer 6

before conditioning UCS (food) produced UCS (salivation)
during conditioning UCS paired with NS (bell) to produce UCS
association made between UCS/NS
after conditioning NS becomes CS producing CS (salivation)

Question 7

extinction occurs in classical conditioning when the conditioned stimulus is

Answer 7

no longer paired with the unconditioned stimulus , so the conditioned response becomes extinct

Question 8

spontaneous recovery can occur in classical conditioning when

Answer 8

the individual carries out the conditioned response some time after the extinction has occured

Question 9

generalisation can occur in classical conditioning when slight changes in the conditioned stimulus such as

Answer 9

diffrent pitches of bell used in pavlovs experiment , still produces the same conditioned response

Question 10

operant conditioning is

Answer 10

a type of learning where behaviour is acquired and maintained based on its consequences
reinforcement increases the likelihood of the observed behaviour being repeated while punishment decreases this likelihood

Question 11

positive reinforcement

Answer 11

occurs when wr carry out a behaviour to recieve a reward
ie completing homework to recieve praise

Question 12

negative reinforcement

Answer 12

occurs when we carry out a behaviour to avoid negative consequences
ie completing homework to avoid a detention

Question 13

skinners box demonstrated , using a rat , the mechanisms of positive reinforcement

Answer 13

shown when the rats pressed down on a lever to receive food as a reward , learning to repeat this action to increase their rewards

Question 14

skinners box demonstrated , using a rat , the mechanisms of negative reinforcement

Answer 14

shown when the rat learnt to press down on the lever to avoid the unpleasant consequence of an electric shock

Question 15

an example of the effects of classical conditioning is little Albert (Watson and rayner) showing

Answer 15

extoinction - when the sound bang / CS no longer produced the CR of crying
generalisation - of the phobia to over white fluffy objects

Question 16

a strength is that it is up to scientific rigour , in an attempt to objectively and sytematically collect reliable data the behaviourist approach makes use of highly scientific RM ie lab experiments , as these have

Answer 16

strictly controlled conditions
reducing cv/ev
increasing the reliability and internal validity of findings
by focusing on behaviour which is observable and can be measured the approach increases the scientific credibility of psychology

Question 17

another strength is the real life applications , an increased understanding of classical and operant conditioning has led to the development of treatments and therapies for serious mental disorder , for example

Answer 17

token economies have been used as a way of dealing with offending behaviour ; inmates who carry out socially desirable behaviour receive tokens which can be traded for privileges
therefore behaviourist principles have had positive impacts on the lives of many

Question 18

a weakness however is environmental determinism , the behaviourist approach sees all behaviour as the product of past reinforcement contingencies , leaving no room for free will or conisous choices , this hard deterministic stance may

Answer 18

be a more appropriate explanation for animal behaviour , whereas explanations of human behaviour should also account for emotions , motivations and reasoning skills
hence the approach may be a limited explanation for human behaviour

Question 19

another weakness is that the cost benefit analyses with the use of animals in experimental research may not be worthy , skinners box caused considerable physical harm to rates breaching the BPS ethical guideline of protection from harm furthermore Watson and Rayners classical conditioning experiments on

Answer 19

little Albert failed to protect him from psychological harm , as well as not offering him the opportunity to withdraw
therefore by modern standards this approach would be viewed as unethical, however a cost benefit analysis may show that the benefit of increased understanding of the diffrent types of learning outweighs the ethical costs .