Behaviourist Approach (Classical Conditioning)

Question 1

What are the key assumptions in this approach?

Answer 1

• concerned with observable behaviour that can be objectively and scientifically measured.
• all behaviour is learned from the environment and can be reduced to a stimulus-response association.
• there is little difference between the learning that takes place in humans and non-human animals. Therefore, research can be carried out on animals as well as humans

Question 2

Describe classical conditioning?

Answer 2

The behaviourist approach suggests that all behaviour is learnt rather than being innate or inherited from parents

One way its learned = classical conditioning (learning through association)

This is when a stimulus produces the same resoonse as another stimulus because they’ve been consistently presenged at the same time

Question 3

Describe Pavlovks experiment

Answer 3

• discovered the process of classical conditioning
• investigated the salivating reflex in dogs = dogs would salivate when food was placed in mouth but also when certain stimuli appeared (food bowl or person giving food)
• he further explored to see of they would salivate when he rang a ball:

1) before conditioning = food was unconditioned stimulus that produced reflex of salivating = unconditioned response
- neutral stimulus = bell = produced conditioned response

2) during conditioning = unconditioned stimulus (food) was repeatedly oaired w/ the neutral stimulus (bell) = eventually, dog associated the bell w/ food
3) after conditioning = the bell was a conditioned stimulus that produced salivating response in the dogs = conditioned response

Question 4

What is an unconditioned stimulus?

Answer 4

Any stimulus that elicits a natural response = doesn’t have to be learned (e.g. food)

Question 5

What is an unconditioned response?

Answer 5

Any natural response that doesn’t require learning (e.g. salivating)

Question 6

What is a neutral stimulus?

Answer 6

Any stumulus that doesn’t elicit a response (e.g. a bell)

Question 7

Define classical conditioning

Answer 7

When NS is constantly paired with UCS as association is made + association is formed between them = becomes CS

Question 8

What is a conditioned stimulus?

Answer 8

This is an unconditioned stimulus that has been paired with the neutral stimulus (e.g. bell)

Question 9

What is a conditioned response?

Answer 9

When an UCR is paired w/ a neutral response + then NS elicits a CR (e.g. salivation)

Question 10

What are the principles of classical conditioning in relation to Pavlovks research?

Answer 10

• stimulus generalisation
• discrimination
• extinction
• timing
• spontaneous recovery

Question 11

What is stimulus generalisation?

Answer 11

Stimuli similar to the original CS (bell) will cause the CR (salivation)

E.g. a bell with a different pitch or sound will cause salivation

Question 12

What is discrimination?

Answer 12

Stimuli similar to the original CS (bell) will not produce the CR (sallivation) = can be done by withholding the UCS

E.g. a similar sounding bell is ring but food is not presented at thr same time = salivatipn will not occur

Question 13

What is extinction?

Answer 13

The Cr (sallivation) is not produced cus of the bell being rung = occurs when CS (bell) is presented w/ out the UCS (food)

E.g. dog wouldn’t salivate anymore due to forgetting over time

Question 14

What is timing?

Answer 14

If the NS cannot be used to predict the UcS - if it happens after the UCS or the time interval between the two is too long, then conditioning doesn’t take place

E.g. too long so forgets = doesn’t salivate

Question 15

What is spontaneous recovery?

Answer 15

Followinf extinction, if the CS and UCs are paired together, once again, the linkb association between them is made much mire quickly

Question 16

treatment - ad of classical conditioning

Answer 16

• helped apply classical conditioning to treatments of psychological disorders
• e.g. classical conditioning has helped form treatments e.g. flooding + systematic desensitisation
• based on the components of classical conditioning + association
  = very successful in treating phobias

Question 17

disads of classical conditioning

Answer 17

• adults
• hydrophobia

Question 18

adults - disads of classical conditioning

Answer 18

• might not be very strong in explaining how adults learn new behaviours
• classical conditioning is limited to only explaining learning in young children + animals only

Question 19

hydrophobia - disads of classical conditioning

Answer 19

• 98% never had bad experience w/ water
• how did they develop it?
• therefore learning can’t be a factor in causing the development of a phobia