Summer 2022 Notes ❀ Flashcards
What is the behaviourist approach?
The behaviourist approach is the studied changes in behaviour that are caused by a person’s direct experience in their environment, using the principles of classical and operant conditioning to explain them.
What are the assumptions of the behaviourist approach?
The assumptions of the behaviourist approach include;
-That we are all born as a blank state (known as tabula rosa) and that we learn everything from the environment. This assumption believes that everyone is born the same and that social norms shapes our personality.
-Another assumption is that we learn through classical/pavlovian conditioning and operant conditioning
What is classical conditioning?
Classical conditioning refers
to learning through association
What is operant conditioning?
Operant conditioning refers to learning through reinforcements
What are the type of reinforcements in operant conditioning?
Types of reinforcement in operant conditioning:
-Positive reinforcement (making it more likely for you to re-enact a behaviour)
-Negative reinforcement (also more likely for you to re-enact a behaviour)
-Punishment (making you less likely to re-enact a behaviour)
What was Paklov’s experiment?
Paklov experienced with classical conditioning, through his work with dogs where he learned that the sound of a bell ringing was associated with gaining food, and therefore in the future they salivated when they heard a bell ring.
What was Skinner’s experiment?
Skinner experimented with reinforcements, where rats were given positive reinforcement in the form of food if they pressed a lever, and when they learned this they continued to press the lever for more.
What was John Watson’s experiment?
John Watson conducted the Little Albert experiment, to experiment with classical conditioning, where a previously unafraid baby was conditioned to become afraid of a rat.
What are the strengths of the behaviourist approach?
The strengths of the behaviourist approach include:
-It sucessfully applies classical and operant conditioning to its theories. Systematic desensitization (a type of behavioural therapy) uses classical conditioning and is useful in the treatment of phobias.
-Uses scientific methods of research because the experiments are objective, measurable and observable.
-Influenced psychology being established as a science
What are the limitations of the behaviourist approach?
Limitations of the behaviourist approach include:
-Focuses too much on the nurture side of the nature/nurture debate, and suggests that all behaviour is learned but cognitive and biological elements have been proved to affect behaviour.
-Raises ethical issues due to the experiments using animals, such as Pavlov’s experiment with dogs, who cannot consent to being involved.
-Experiments with animals cannot be fully compared to human reactions
-Deterministic
