Behaviourist Approach Flashcards
(10 cards)
What is the behaviourist approach ?
Nearly all behaviour is learnt
Animals and humans learn in the same way
Classical conditioning
Response becomes more frequent/predictable in a given environment, with reinforcement typically being a reward or stimulus
Pavlov Dog Study
. Pavlov ringing a bell every time he presents his dog with food and the food causes the dog to salivate
. Food = UCS and Salivation = UCR
. Due to continuous pairings of the bell being rung when dog is presented with food, bell alone caused dog to salivate
. Bell become = CS and salivation = CR
Skinners Box Research
A small box used to study animal behaviour = rats
Contained a lever
Pressing the lever would lead to consequences, like:
. A food pellet (positive reinforcement).
. Stopping a mild electric shock (negative reinforcement).
. Receiving a shock (punishment).
What is operant conditioning ?
Method learning that uses rewards and punishment to modify behaviour
What is positive reinforcement ?
When you give rewards for something you consider good
What is negative reinforcement ?
Taking something away as a reward to try and encourage a behaviour that you see as good
Evaluation (RLA)
. Principles of conditioning have been applied to a broad range of real world behaviours and problems
E.g: behaviour systems within schools and also token economies within prisons
Evaluation (Ethical and Practical issues in animal experiments)
. Animals involved were exposed to stressful conditions during research into behaviourism
. May have also affected how they reacted within the experiments and perhaps in natural environment they may have behaved differently
Evaluation (Scientific Cred)
. Focuses on the measurement of observable characteristics
. Method of data collection used is systematic, reliable and objective
. Plays a role in helping psychology become a credible scientific discipline
