Behaviourist Approach Flashcards
(46 cards)
What is one assumption of the behaviourist approach?
Humans are born as a blank slate
This means that behaviour is learned from interactions with the environment.
What does the behaviourist approach emphasize in terms of behaviour?
Behaviour is learned from external, social, and environmental factors
This view opposes the influence of innate and biological factors.
What is the term for the perspective that the environment determines behaviour?
Environmental determinism
This perspective suggests that associations made early in life influence future behaviour.
Who demonstrated the behaviourist perspective through research on aggression?
Bandura (1963)
He showed that children emulated aggressive behaviours observed in role models.
What are the two types of conditioning according to behaviourists?
Classical and operant conditioning
Both are processes through which behaviour is learned.
What is classical conditioning?
Learning new behaviours through association
Pavlov’s work with dogs is a foundational example.
What is the unconditioned stimulus (UCS) in Pavlov’s experiment?
Food
This stimulus naturally causes salivation in dogs.
What is the conditioned response (CR) in Pavlov’s classical conditioning?
Salivation in response to the bell
This response occurs after the bell becomes associated with food.
What does operant conditioning involve?
Reinforcement and punishment
These processes increase or decrease the likelihood of behaviour.
What is positive reinforcement?
Using rewards to increase the likelihood of a behaviour
An example is giving food to a rat to encourage lever pressing.
What is the role of punishment in operant conditioning?
Weakens behaviour by decreasing the likelihood of it occurring
For example, detention for incomplete homework.
According to behaviourists, how do humans and animals learn?
In similar ways
This means laws of learning apply to both human and non-human animals.
What is the reinforcement model of attraction?
Individuals are more likely to form relationships with those who reinforce them
Attention and compliments from partners serve as rewards.
What does the reinforcement-affect model state?
Individuals like people present when they are reinforced
This is based on classical conditioning principles.
What does Social Exchange theory propose?
Relationships form if rewards outweigh costs
Factors include physical attractiveness, compatibility, and emotional costs.
What is the main purpose of systematic desensitisation?
To deconstruct the faulty association causing fear
This is achieved through gradual exposure and learning relaxation techniques.
What is counterconditioning in the context of systematic desensitisation?
Learning to associate the phobic object with relaxation instead of anxiety
This is based on the principle of reciprocal inhibition.
What does an anxiety hierarchy involve?
A sequential ranking of feared scenarios
Clients progress through this hierarchy from least to most anxiety-provoking situations.
What is in-vivo desensitisation?
Confronting the phobic object or situation in real life
This method is traditionally used in systematic desensitisation.
What is the effectiveness of systematic desensitisation based on Capafóns et al’s research?
Clients showed reduced physiological signs of fear and lower self-reported fear levels
This indicates treatment efficacy for specific phobias.
What is the ‘honeymoon effect’ in the context of systematic desensitisation?
Short-term beneficial outcomes from the intervention
Without regular reinforcement, desensitisation may not be maintained long-term.
What is biological preparedness?
The idea that organisms are biologically adapted to quickly learn associations between stimuli
This explains why some fears are harder to treat than others.
What is biological preparedness?
The concept that organisms are biologically adapted to quickly learn associations between certain stimuli and fear for survival.
What types of stimuli are humans genetically programmed to fear?
- Snakes
- Heights
- Strangers
