Psychology A3 - concept two - behaviourist

Question 1

what is operant conditioning?

Answer 1

-form a link between a behaviour (operant) and its consequences (result that follows)
-learning by consequences rather than by association
-depending on consequence, probability of the behaviour being repeated increases or decreases

Question 2

two consequences

Answer 2

1. reinforcement
2. punishment

Question 3

consequences 1:
reinforcement

Answer 3

-increases probability of a behaviour being repeated
-any consequence that does this = reinforces behaviour
-two main types:
1. positive reinforcement: occurs when a behaviour is followed by a pleasant consequence, consequence could be something tangible/intangible, consequence reinforces behaviour making it likely to happen again
2. negative punishment: occurs when a behaviour is followed by the removal of an unpleasant stimulus, consequence reinforces the behaviour making it more likely to happen again

Question 4

consequence 2:
punishment

Answer 4

-consequence reduces probability of behaviour being repeated
-any consequence is said to punish the behaviour
-two main types:
1. positive punishment: when a behaviour is followed by an unpleasant consequence
2. negative punishment: when a behaviour is followed by removal of something pleasant

Question 5

motivation

Answer 5

-behaviour is motivated by desire to achieve goals or satisfy our needs
-motivation is driven by rewards through operant conditioning
-source of rewards can be extrinsic and intrinsic
-extrinsic rewards: come from our environment,

Question 6

evaluation: practical applications (+)

Answer 6

-practical applications of operant conditioning in education
-reinforcement is used in settings like schools
-example, good work and behaviour = reinforced by extrinsic rewards like praise/stickers
-intrinsic rewards are encouraged to raise students’ self-esteem
-punishments used in schools and by parents, eliminate undesirable behaviour
-shows that OC has wide uses in the real world

Question 7

evaluation: research support (+)

Answer 7

-supported by both human and animal studies
-lab studies have shown how OC works in animal species
-findings demonstrate how behaviour is influences by reinforcement and punishment
-human studies have discovered brain areas and structures linked with reinforcement of behaviour (Chase et al., 2015)
-research supports the view that OC is a key form of learning in many animal and human behaviours

Question 8

evaluation: incomplete explanation of learning (-)

Answer 8

-OC isn’t a full explanation of some learning
-OC can explain some complex behaviours when CC can’t
-example, can explain how a phobia is maintained
-only explains how the existing behaviour is strengthened or weakened
-doesn’t explain how the phobia first appears
-OC is an incomplete theory that doesn’t account for all behaviours