Behaviourist Approach Flashcards
When was it founded and by who
Founded by JB Watson in 1913
What is it about
- we are born as a blank slate
- at birth we have the capacity to learn only
- all behaviour is learned from environment
What are some assumptions
-When born, our mind is a blank slate
-There is little difference between the learning that takes place in humans than in animals
-behaviour is the result of stimulus
What did he say about our environment
Behaviour is learned by environment. If we manipulate the environment we can shape and manipulate behaviour.
What did Pavlov do
Pavlov demonstrated the importance of learning by association in his conditioning experiments with dogs.
What did Watson do to little Albert
1920s tested conditioning on little Albert by making the UCS - noise, UCR - fear, NS - white rate, CS - white rat, CR - fear
What is the definition of positive reinforcement
Anything which has the effect of increasing the likelihood of the behaviour being repeated by using consequences that are pleasant
What is the definition of negative reinforcement
Anything which has the effect of increasing the likelihood of the behaviour being repeated by removing unpleasant consequences
What is an example of negative reinforcement
Students doing homework to avoid getting detention
Example of positive reinforcement
Dog getting food for sitting when told to do so
What is operant conditioning
Operant conditioning is concerned with the use of consequences, such as gaining rewards or receiving punishment, in order to modify and shape behaviour.
How did skinner come up with operant conditioning
He put a rat in a box and it accidentally pressed a button to get food. Once the rat accidentally pressed the button a few times it learnt to press the button to get food.
