Behaviourist Approach Flashcards
(8 cards)
What is classical conditioning and who invented it?
Ivan Pavlov came up with the idea to attempt to associate a stimulus to produce a response from dogs (to salivate at the sound of a bell). This was done through conditioning a neutral stimulus (a bell) and associating that with an unconditioned stimulus (food) to produce a conditioned response (salivation). After continuously repeating this procedure, the dog would eventually salivate at the sound of the bell.
What is operant conditioning and who invented it?
Skinner, he would get a rat and make them perform certain actions e.g. move into a cage and lever activates; this would then be reinforced positively (food treat), or it would be reinforced negatively where an action will stop something bad happening (lever) or if bad it would be punished (electrical shock). This would then make the rat continue doing the actions giving a reward and stop the actions giving punishment.
What are the applications of Behaviourist approach?
Behaviourism has increased our understanding of the causes of phobias and attachment
What is the difference between operant conditioning and classical conditioning
operant is learning through consequences
classical is learning through association
what is the difference between reinforcement and punishment
reinforcement is a consequence that increases the likelihood of a particular behaviour being repeated which STRENGTHENS behaviour
Punishment is a consequence that decreases the likelihood of a particular behaviour being repeated. this WEAKENS behaviour
explain what is meant by positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, positive punishment, negative punishment
positive reinforcement is where a particular behaviour is more likely to be repeated. for example jimmy completes his homework and the teacher rewards him with a golden star. jimmy is more likely to repeat that behaviour and it strengthens behaviour
negative reinforcement is where jimmy completes his hwk and his detention is taken away (more likely to be repeated)
positive punishment is where bob does not complete his hwk so the teacher calls his parents
negative punishment is where bob does not complete his homework so he gets a detention
what is the difference between classical conditioning and operant conditioning
CLASSICAL
involuntary response
they are considered involuntary because they are automatic meaning they dont require consciousness
for example in Pavolvs research the dogs naturally sailvates due to the presence of food and the association that develops between the neutral stimulus and unconditioned stiumli is automatic
OPERANT
voluntary response
behaviours are controlled by organisms
for example in Skinners research the rat decides what to do bases on its experience
ALL EVALUATION POINTS FOR THE BEHAVIOURST APPROACH
Scientific
-it studies observable stimulus response mechanisms
-they establish cause and effect relationships
-high controlled lab experiment so has high internal validity so its more reliable and accurate therefore more useful
-used standarised procedures which allows accurate replication of the research (skinner and pavlov) so it can be applied to real world applications
can help treat mental disorders
Criticism generalisabilty
used animals which cant be generalised to humans because humans have a more cognitive/complex/abstract system so unreliable
Practical applications (real world)
can help treat mental disorders
counter-conditioning treatments, token economy system in prisons increasing validity
It is deterministic and does not promote free will
alters human behaviour and produces harmful effects
reductionist
human behaviour are too complex and abstract
