Behaviourism

Question 1

What are the basic assumptions of behaviourism?

Answer 1

• All human behaviour is learned from the environment
• Only focuses on observable, measurable behaviour
• Strictly scientific methods
• We are born as a ‘blank slate’

Question 2

What is classical conditioning?

Answer 2

• learning through association
• A NS, which produces no response, is repeatedly paired with an US, which produces an UR, so that the two stimuli become associated. The NS has become a CS which produces a CR
• eg. Pavlov

Question 3

What is operant conditioning?

Answer 3

• Learning by consequence
• all behaviour can be learned by consequence such as reward and punishment
• if a person is rewarded they are more likely to repeat behaviour
• if a person is punished they are less likely to repeat behaviour
• eg. Skinner

Question 4

What is positive reinforcement?

Answer 4

• Provides a pleasant consequence

- Makes behaviour more likely

Question 5

What is negative reinforcement?

Answer 5

• Removes an unpleasant consequence

- Makes behaviour more likely

Question 6

What is punishment?

Answer 6

• provides an unpleasant consequence

- makes behaviour less likely