Unit 8: Behaviourism & Neobehaviourism

Question 1

What should psychology be according to behaviourism, what should it focus on and how?

Answer 1

a natural, objective science
focuses on directly observable entities through introspection

Question 2

Who is the founder of classical behaviourism?

Answer 2

J.B. Watson

Question 3

Russian objective psychology

Answer 3

study of things that are directly measurable

Question 4

How should psychology be studied according to Pavlov?

Answer 4

using physiological concepts and techniques

Question 5

What is a conditioned reflex?

Answer 5

objects or events related to an unconditioned stimulus wia associative process
-> generates same response as original stimulus
-> conditioned reflex

Question 6

What associative processes are there?

Answer 6

contiguity
frequency

Question 7

Extinction

Answer 7

conditioned stimulus is continuously present
-> not followed by unconditioned stimulus
-> conditioned response will gradually diminsih and disappear

Question 8

Spontaneous recovery

Answer 8

period of time passes after extinction
-> CS presented again
-> causes conditioned response
=> extinction only inhibits CR

Question 9

Disinhibition

Answer 9

after extinction
-> presenting strong stimulus irrelevant to animal causes return of conditioned response

Question 10

What was the purpose of Watsons objective psychology?

Answer 10

prediction and control of behaviour

Question 11

Stimulus - Response psychology (S-R Psychology)

Answer 11

S: situation in environment or internal condition
R: everything an organism does

Question 12

Four types of behaviour according to Watson

Answer 12

Explicit (overt) learned: talking, writing, etc.
Implicit (covert) learned: increased heartbeat when seeing the dentist
Overt unlearned: blinking and sneezing
Covert unlearned: glandular secretions& circulatory changes

Question 13

Four methods of studying behaviour

Answer 13

Observation
Conditioned reflex method
Testing
Verbal reports

Question 14

What is the role of instincts in behaviour according to behaviourism according to Watson and what should psychology rather focus on?

Answer 14

don’t exist
-> only reflexes, no innate complex patterns
observable behaviours which can be quantified

Question 15

What makes people who they are according to behaviourism?

Answer 15

Experience, not heredity

Question 16

Watsons most important experiment

Answer 16

little albert experiment

Question 17

What are emotions and what are important aspects of emotions?

Answer 17

inherited
aspects:
- Stimuli that arouse emotion
- internal reaction
- external reaction

Question 18

What is neo-behaviourism?

Answer 18

combining of Behaviourism and Logical Positivism

Question 19

Which are the variables neo behaviourism requires?

Answer 19

Hypothesis
expectation
belief
cognitive map

Question 20

What is logical positivism and what does it allow?

Answer 20

Response to problem generated by discoveries of not-directly observable entities (e.g. gravity)
allows theorisation without sacrificing objectivity

Question 21

What parts does Logical Positivism divide science into?

Answer 21

Empirical: observable terms
Theoretical: attempt to explain what is observed

Question 22

What is an operational definition and what is it used for?

Answer 22

defining any abstract concept in terms of procedures used to mediate it
convert theoretical terms into events, stripping them of metaphysical connotations

Question 23

What beliefs did all neo behaviourists have in common?

Answer 23

1. theory used -> must be used in ways demanded by logical positivism
2. All theoretical terms should be defined operationally
3. animals as research subjects because:
   a) variables easier to control
   b) processes only differ in degree -> can be generalised
4. Learning process as primary mechanism by which organisms adjust to changes in the environment

Question 24

What did Skinner come up with?

Answer 24

Functional analysis of behaviour
-> environmental elements give rise to conscious events which cause behaviour

Question 25

What is operant behaviour?

Answer 25

behaviour operating on environment to create consequences
-> behaviour not caused but controlled by consequences
-> operant conditioning

Question 26

Reinforcer

Answer 26

anything that, when contingency on response is realised, changes rate at which response is realised

Question 27

The effects of positive and negative reinforcement

Answer 27

asymmetrical
reinforcement strengthens behaviour
punishment doesnt weaken it