Lecture 1 Flashcards
(31 cards)
Who established the field of behaviourism?
John Watson (1878-1958)
Watson aimed for psychology to become more scientific.
What did Watson dislike in psychological research?
Introspection
Introspection is the examination of one’s own mental processes.
What are the three main arguments made by Watson in his article?
- Psychology should only use objective data (observable behaviours)
- Psychology needed to be explicit about its goals. Yes it should be concerned with explaining people’s behaviour but should also be concerned with prediction and influence
- Animal research is fine.
What type of data should psychology avoid according to Watson?
Subjective data
This includes self-reported perceptions.
What should psychology be concerned with, according to Watson?
Explaining, predicting, and influencing behavior.
What is respondent conditioning?
When an organism associates two stimuli presented at the same time.
What was B. F. Skinner’s contribution to psychology?
Understanding that antecedents and consequences impact the probability of a behavior occurring
ABA can be defined as…
The attempt to solve behavior problems by providing antecedents and/or consequences that change behaviour
What is the first step in Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA)?
Define the target behavior.
What is the second step in Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA)?
Identify relations between the target behavior and its antecedents and consequences.
What is the third step in Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA)?
Identify an effective intervention for changing the rate of the target behavior.
Fill in the blank: The behavior to be changed by a Functional Behavioral Assessment is known as the _______.
target behavior.
What is the acronym for the Functional Behavioral Assessment?
ABCs (the 3 term contingency)
The ABC model represents Antecedent, Behavior, and Consequence.
What additional term do most behavioral analysts include in their analysis?
EO (Establishing Operation)
EO refers to setting events that influence the power of a trigger.
What are the components of the 4 term contingency used by behavioral analysts?
- Establishing Operation (EO)
- Antecedent (A)
- Behavior (B)
- Consequences (C)
This model helps to analyze the context and outcomes of behaviors.
What are the two broad types of behavior problems identified?
- Behaviors that don’t occur enough
- Behaviors that occur too much
Behavioral analysts focus on addressing these issues through interventions.
What is the primary goal of a behavioral analyst?
To reduce the frequency of problematic behaviors
This involves strategies to either increase or decrease behaviors.
What is reinforcement?
The procedure of providing consequences for a behavior that increase or maintain the frequency of that behavior
Reinforcement is a key concept in behavior modification.
What is a positive reinforcer?
A reinforcing event in which something is added following a behavior
Positive reinforcement strengthens a behavior by introducing a favorable outcome.
What is a negative reinforcer?
A reinforcing event in which something is removed following a behavior
Negative reinforcement strengthens a behavior by removing an unfavorable outcome.
What are two procedures used for decreasing the rate of behavior?
- Extinction
- Punishment
These procedures aim to reduce undesirable behaviors.
What are the two procedures used for reducing the frequency of behavior?
Extinction and Punishment
These procedures are commonly discussed in behavior analysis.
What does extinction involve in behavior analysis?
Withholding the reinforcers that maintain a target behavior
It is based on the principle that behavior is maintained by its consequences.
What is punishment in the context of behavior analysis?
Providing consequences for a behavior that decrease the frequency of that behavior
Punishment is not related to retribution or justice according to behaviorists.
