Behaviourist Approach Flashcards
(24 cards)
Key assumptions of behaviourist approach
All behaviour is learnt and research should be scientific
Why do the behaviourist approach scientific
Focuses on observable behaviour because it’s more objective and can be measured
What are the two ways behaviour is learnt
Classical and operant conditioning
Positive reinforcement
Reward increases the likelihood of repeating a behaviour
Negative reinforcement
Avoiding something unpleasant decreasing the likelihood of repeating behaviour
Punishment
To stop undesirable behaviour decreasing the likelihood or repeating behaviour
Classical conditioning
Behaviour is learnt when associating an involuntary response and a stimulus
Example of classical conditioning
Pavlov - dogs salivated to the sound of the bell
What type of response is classical conditioning
Involuntary
How does classical conditioning work
A neutral stimulus eventually becomes a conditioned stimulus that elicits a conditioned response
Operant conditioning
Behaviour is learnt when associating a voluntary behaviour and a consequence
What type of responses are operant conditioning
Responses are voluntary
Research behind operant conditioning
Skinner - rats pressed a lever for food - positive reinforcement
Pavlov aim
Study looking at salivation and food, developed to look at whether digs could be conditioned to salivate to different stimuli
Method Pavlov
When food was present, Pavlov range bell at same time. Gradually the dogs associated the bell with the food then rang the bell on its own. The dog would then salivate it the sound of the bell
Results Pavlov
Before classical conditioning: food led to salivation and bell led to no conditioned response. During classical conditioning food and bell led to salivation. After classical conditioning the bell led to salivation
Skinner aim
To study how consequences of behaviour affect learning in animals
Method skinner
Put animals in a box and give them food when they press a button. This is to see if the reward increased the likelihood of the rats repeating their behaviour
Findings skinner
Positive and negative reinforcement increased the likelihood that behaviour will be repeated. Punishment decreased the likelihood that behaviour will be repeated
4 evaluation points of behaviourist approach
Ethics and use of animals, has given psychology scientific credibility, application to real world, not enough emphasis on nature nurture debate
Elaboration of ‘ethics and use of animals’
Animals don’t provide a true representation of human behaviour. Psychologists depend on animal research but artificial conditions and behaviours abnormal of humans questioning validity. Criticised for use of animals to depict human psychology
Elaboration of ‘has given psychology scientific credibiltiy’
Because methods used include lab experiments which gives control over variables and objectivity allowing for prediction and testibility. Better for psychology like Wundts introspection
Elaboration of ‘application to real world’
Focuses on reinforcement to explain behaviour and these principle can be seen in everyday settings to encourage and discourage behaviours. This can be seen in schools with stickers and detentions
Elaboration of ‘not enough emphasis on nature nurture debate’
All emphasis on argument that all behaviour is learnt - nurture
By concentrating on environment disregard for biological factors like hormones and genes. Behaviourism isn’t the full picture therefore deities die being too narrow and lacking explanation of how nature and nurture interact
