C1-Behaviourist Approach- Assumptions

Question 1

In the assumption of behaviour learned through conditioning, what is operant conditioning?(6)

Answer 1

• specific consequences are associated with voluntary behaviour
• 4 types of consequence
• reinforcement-increases behaviour
• punishment- decreases behaviour
• positive is where something is given
• negative is where something is taken away

Question 2

What are the assumptions?(3)

Answer 2

• Tabula rasa(blank slate)
• behaviour learned through conditioning
• humans and animals learn in similiar ways

Question 3

What is the assumption of Tabula rasa(blank slate)?(3)

Answer 3

• born neutral with no inherent personality and emotions don’t drive our behaviour
• believes human behaviour should be studied scientifically
• ‘environmental determinism’- our personality and behaviour is determined by our environment- no free will over our behaviour

Question 4

In the assumption of behaviour learned through conditioning, what is classical conditioning?(3)

Answer 4

• before conditioning: food is an unconditioned stimulus and salvation is the unconditioned response
• during conditioning: neutral stimulus such as bell, is presented alongside the UCS which is repeated several times which causes UCR which is where association occurs
• after conditioning: bell is now conditioned stimulus which produces a new conditioned response of salvation

Question 5

What is the assumption of humans and animals learn in similar ways?(3)

Answer 5

• operant and classical conditioning can apply to humans and animals
• eg Pavlov and salvation
• token economy system is an example where desirable behaviour is forced with tokens that can be exchanged for rewards such as cigarettes

Question 6

In the assumption of behaviour learned through conditioning, what are the two types of conditioning?(2)

Answer 6

• operant conditoning- learning through consequences

- classical conditioning- learning by association

Question 7

When applying the behavioural assumptions to criminal behaviour, what assumptions can be applied?(2)

Answer 7

• blank slate

- conditioning

Question 8

In applying behaviourist assumptions to criminal behaviour, how can ‘blank slate’ be applied to social explanations?(2)

Answer 8

• gender socialisation- socialising

- SLT-observation of role models ie vicarious reinforcement

Question 9

In applying behaviourist assumptions to criminal behaviour, how can ‘conditioning’ be applied to social explanations?(2)

Answer 9

• classical : S-R association between criminal behaviour and gains
• operant: reward (+) and escape (-)