The Learning Approach-Behaviourism Flashcards
What is the behaviourist approach concerned with?
Studying behaviour that can be observed and measured.
Why do behaviourists mainly conduct lab studies?
To maintain more control and objectivity within their research
What do behaviourists suggest about the learning process across different species?
The learning process is the same across all species which means animals can replace humans as experimental subjects
What is learning?
An active process whereby humans and animals operate of their environments.
How does behaviour in operant conditioning work?
Behaviour is shaped and maintained by its consequences.
Outline Skinner’s procedure.
- Rats were placed in specifically designed boxes.
- When the rat activated a lever it was rewarded with a pellet of food.
- The desirable consequence led to the behaviour being repeated.
- If pressing a lever stopped the rat being given an electric shock they would also repeat the behaviour.
Define Positive Reinforcement
Relieving a reward when a behaviour is performed.
Define negative reinforcement
Producing a behaviour that avoids something unpleasant
Define punishment
An unpleasant consequence of a behaviour.
What do positive and negative reinforcement likely to cause?
An increase in the likelihood of a behaviour being repeated.
What is punishment likely to cause?
A decrease in the likelihood of the behaviour being repeated.
What is classical conditioning?
Learning through association
What did Pavlov’s study show?
He conditioned dogs to salivate when a bell rings. He showed how a neutral stimulus (bell) can elicit a new learning response through association
Before conditioning…
UCS–>UCR
NS–>No Response
During conditioning…
NS+UNS
