Behaviourist Approach

Question 1

What are key assumptions of the behaviourist approach?

Answer 1

We are born as a ‘tabula rosa’

Everything we become is shaped by the process of learning from our environment

Question 2

What does ‘tabula rosa’ mean?

Answer 2

Blank slate

Question 3

Is the behaviourist approach nature or nurture?

Answer 3

Nurture

Question 4

What does the behaviourist approach argue in order for psychology to be scientific?

Answer 4

Argues that in order for psychology to be scientific, it should focus on observable behaviour which can be objectively measured

Question 5

What type of experiments are the best way to investigate the behaviourist approach?

Answer 5

Lab experiments

Question 6

What are the 2 main forms of learning?

Answer 6

Classical conditioning

Operant conditioning

Question 7

What is classical conditioning?

Answer 7

Learning through association

Question 8

How does classical conditioning work?

Answer 8

Two stimuli are linked together to produce a new learned response

Question 9

What study was conducted into classical conditioning?

Answer 9

Pavlovs dogs

Question 10

Pavlovs dogs: Before conditioning

Answer 10

Neutral stimulus: the bell
Unconditioned stimulus: the food
Unconditioned response: the salivation

Question 11

Pavlovs dogs: During conditioning

Answer 11

NS: the bell
is linked with the
UCS: the food 
to produce the
UCR: the salivation

Question 12

Pavlovs dogs: After conditioning

Answer 12

Conditioned stimulus: the bell

Conditioned response: the salivation

Question 13

What is operant conditioning?

Answer 13

Learning through consequences and reinforcement

Question 14

What is reinforcement?

Answer 14

Anything which has the effect of increasing the likelihood of behaviour being repeated

Question 15

What is positive reinforcement?

Answer 15

Reinforcement by using consequences which are positive when they happen

Question 16

What is negative reinforcement?

Answer 16

Reinforcement by using consequences that are pleasant when they stop

Question 17

What is punishment?

Answer 17

Anything which has the effect of decreasing the likelihood of the behaviour being repeated by using consequences that are negative when they happen

Question 18

What was the study into operant conditioning?

Answer 18

Skinners rat box

Question 19

What was the procedure of Skinners rat box study?

Answer 19

A rat or pigeon is placed in an enclosed box with no influence from the outside world
The rat is hungry so performs a variety of behaviours

Question 20

What is an example of positive reinforcement in Skinners rat box?

Answer 20

By chance he presses the lever -> a pellet of food appears -> rat will do it again

Question 21

What is an example of negative reinforcement in Skinners rat box?

Answer 21

Box became electrocuted -> by chance he presses a lever -> electric current stops -> rat presses lever again if electrocution starts