the learning approach: behaviourism Flashcards
the behaviour approach is an approach to explaining behaviour which suggests that
all behaviour is acquired and maintained through classical and operant conditioning
hence only behaviour which can be objectively measured and observed is studied as demonstrated by skinners box , this is due to
the founders of behaviourism , Watson and skinner , disagreeing with the subjective nature of Wundts introspective methods , and inability to form general laws
from a behaviourist perspective the basic laws governing learning are the same across both non humans and humans , therefore
non human animals can replace humans in behaviourist experimental research
classical conditioning
a type of learning which occurs through assosications made between the UCS and the NS
process of classical conditioning
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
pavlov demonstrated that dogs could be conditioned to salivate upon hearing a bell using this method ;
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)
extinction occurs in classical conditioning when the conditioned stimulus is
no longer paired with the unconditioned stimulus , so the conditioned response becomes extinct
spontaneous recovery can occur in classical conditioning when
the individual carries out the conditioned response some time after the extinction has occured
generalisation can occur in classical conditioning when slight changes in the conditioned stimulus such as
diffrent pitches of bell used in pavlovs experiment , still produces the same conditioned response
operant conditioning is
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
positive reinforcement
occurs when wr carry out a behaviour to recieve a reward
ie completing homework to recieve praise
negative reinforcement
occurs when we carry out a behaviour to avoid negative consequences
ie completing homework to avoid a detention
skinners box demonstrated , using a rat , the mechanisms of positive reinforcement
shown when the rats pressed down on a lever to receive food as a reward , learning to repeat this action to increase their rewards
skinners box demonstrated , using a rat , the mechanisms of negative reinforcement
shown when the rat learnt to press down on the lever to avoid the unpleasant consequence of an electric shock
an example of the effects of classical conditioning is little Albert (Watson and rayner) showing
extoinction - when the sound bang / CS no longer produced the CR of crying
generalisation - of the phobia to over white fluffy objects
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 .
