Behaviourist approach Flashcards
What are the assumptions of the behaviourist approach ?
1) we are born a blank state- all behaviour is learned and determined by interactions and experiences- in our environment- no biological influence on behaviour- eg genes
2) behaviourist approach rejects vagueness of introspection- only observable behaviour- measurable scientifically- thought that it’s only these behaviours that should be studied- eg lab study - thought processes can’t be observed so are difficult to test
3) behaviourists suggest - basic process of learning is same for all species- therefore valid to study how ano meals learn - apply the same principles to humans - eg classical and operant conditioning
Behaviourist Approach- Theory 1 Classical Conditioning
Behaviourist regard all behaviour as a result of a stimulus- born with a few innate responses(reflexes) that do not need to be learnt- most are learnt
classical conditioning is learning through association
learning occurs when 2 stimuli are repeatedly paired together ( a neutral stimulus+an unconditioned stimulus).
neutral stimulus will not cause a response
an unconditioned stimulus - causes a natural response- fear (unconditioned response)
through association the original neutral stimulus (now the conditioned stimulus) will cause the fear (conditioned response)
Behaviourist Approach- Theory 2- Operant Conditioning
behaviourist such as Skinner recognise that learning can occur through the CONSEQUENCES of behaviour.
if a reward is given for doing something, the behaviour is likely to be repeated, this is called positive reinforcement - eg getting a present after doing well in an exam
if PUNISHMENT occurs after behaviour this reduces the chance that behaviour will be repeated- eg stopping doing an activity you enjoy after doing bad in an exam
if something unpleasant stops when we perform a desired behaviour , then the behaviour is more likely to be repeated this is called NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT - eg not having to do a chore one night because of good score in exam
Shaping - a route to target behaviour- instead of only reinforcing the target behaviour- behaviours that lead to the target behaviour are rewarded
Evaluation of the Behaviourist Approach- Deterministic
P- A weakness of the Behaviourist approach is that it can be accused of being deterministic in its view of human behaviour
E- The behaviourist approach sees all behaviour as being controlled by past experiences that have been conditioned. Skinner suggested that everything we do is the sum total of our reinforcement history. Skinner suggested that any sense of free will is simply ‘an illusion’ and our past conditioning history controls our behaviour.
L- This is a weakness of the approach as it suggests that people are not really responsible for their behaviour. If our past experiences control our behaviour, then it means that we cannot choose how we behave. If someone behaves in an immoral way , the approach seems to suggest it is not their fault.
Evaluation of the Behaviourist Approach- Real Life Application
P- The principles of conditioning have been applied to a wide range of real world behaviours and problems.
E- For example, operant conditioning is the basis of token economy systems that have been used successfully in institutions. For example token economies are used in prisons and psychiatric wards. These work by awarding appropriate behaviours with tokens that can be exchanged for privileges.
Additionally classical conditioning has led to the development of treatments for the reduction of anxiety associated with phobias. Systematic desensitisation is a therapy based on classical conditioning and works by eliminating the learned anxious response(conditioned response) associated with the feared object or situation (conditioned stimulus) and replacing it with relaxation.
L- This is a strength because of token economies which have been very successful in treating and correcting prisoners behaviours. Additionally systematic desensitisation has a very high success rate of treating phobic patients.
Evaluation of Behaviourist Approach- Animal studies
P- A weakness of the behaviourist approach is that most of the research support comes from animal studies
E- issues of generalising to human behaviour
E- ethical issues presented- Skinner’s rats electrocuted- Pavlov’s gathered dogs saliva
L- weakness of the research as it undermines the credibility and validity
Evaluation of Behaviourist Approach- Reductionist
P- too simple, all behaviour is described by learning - reduces all explanations of behaviour to learning
E- eg how it explains how phobias are created and maintained
- ignores how all other approaches explain our behaviour eg cognitive and biological approaches
L- weakness, makes us question theory as it over simplifies complex human behaviours
Research Methods (Behaviourist approach) - How do behaviourist psychologists study behaviour ?
Classical conditioning research- Pavlov’s dog
Pavlov developed classical conditioning. He found that dogs could be conditioned to salivate to the sound of a bell if that sound was repeatedly presented at the same time as they were given food. Gradually Pavlov’s dogs learned to associate the sound of the bell with the food and would produce the salivation response every time they heard the sound.
Therefore Pavlov was able to show how a neutral stimulus (bell in this case) can cause a learned response (conditioned response through association.
stage 1 prior to learning -
The dog salivates when it is presented with food. The salivation reflex is an unconditioned response to the presentation of the food since it occurs automatically- no learning is required. The food is the unconditioned stimulus since the dog does not need to learn to salivate at the sight of the food.
stage 2 during learning-
At the start of this stage the bell is the neutral stimulus since it does not cause a salvation response from the dog. The bell is repeatedly presented at the same time as the food (unconditioned stimulus) and the dog salivates. After being repeatedly paired the dog begins to associate the bell with the food.
stage 3 after learning-
The conditioning process has now been completed, the dog will salivate to the sound of the bell even when it is not presented with food. The dog has been conditioned to salivate to the sound of the bell alone. The bell has now become the conditioned stimulus and the salivation is the conditioned response.
Research Methods (Behaviourist approach) - How do behaviourist psychologists study behaviour ?
Operant Conditioning - Skinners box- rats
Skinner conducted experiments with rats in specially designed cages called Skinner boxes.
He would introduce a hungry rat into the box and inside the box there was a lever that when pressed, would deliver a pellet of food.
The rat soon learned that pressing the lever would result in a food (a reward). Skinner observed that as a consequence of its actions (receiving the food) the rat continued to display this new behaviour. The rats behaviour had been positively reinforced.
Skinner changed the mechanism so that when the rat pressed the lever, instead of receiving a food pellet it was given an electric shock to its paw. Very quickly the rat stopped pressing the lever. The electric shock acted as a punishment.
Skinner also set up the box so that the floor was electrified and the lever switched off the the current. Once Skinner electrified the floor the rat started to bounce about and accidentally hit the lever. The electric current was turned off and the experiment was repeated. The rat learned to press the lever when the current was on. This is an example of negative reinforcement.
Evaluation of Operant and Classical Research Studies - High Control over the variables
P- lab study have tight control over the independent variable and extraneous variables
E- for example in Skinner’s research- all variable were kept the same- except type of reinforcement/punishment
L- This is a strength as it was a standardised procedure, so it is free from bias which adds to the scientific credibility of the research - means that a cause and effect relationship between IV and DV can be established.
Evaluation of Operant and Classical Research Studies- No Demand Characteristics
P- when using non human participants there won’t be a possibility that they work out the aim of the study.
E- for example- in Skinners study although rats are intelligent species- there is no possibility of them having figured out the aim of the study - so can’t present demand characteristics to change the direction of the study either way
L- This is a strength as they won’t purposely conform to the idea of what your study is looking for to please the researcher, or similarly they won’t purposely present opposing behaviours to invalidate the results
Evaluation of Operant and Classical Research Studies- Lack of Generalisation
P- most experiments used to support the behaviourist approach are carried out on animals.
E- Eg Pavlov used dogs for his research which genetically can’t be matched similarly to humans
L- this is a weakness as it is questionable whether we can apply these findings to humans therefore this reduces the validity of the method and the whole behaviourist approach.
Evaluation of Operant and Classical Research Studies- Ethical Issues
P- using animals in research has raised several ethical issues- animals are often kept hungry and thirsty in order to motivate them in experimental procedures.
E- for example in one version of Skinners research- the rats were electrocuted this therefore caused physical harm
L- this is a weakness because research should follow the animal ethical code of conduct meaning an animal should not be psychologically or physically harmed during an experiment.
