the behaviourist approach Flashcards
(16 cards)
What does the behaviourist approach say about behaviour?
Nearly all behaviour is learnt.
Do animals and humans learn in the same way according to behaviourism?
Yes, behaviourism believes animals and humans learn through the same processes.
What is the stance of behaviourism on the mind?
The ‘mind’ is irrelevant - we can’t directly measure a person’s thinking.
How does behaviourism explain behaviour?
Behaviourism explains behaviour only in terms of observable actions and learning, ignoring internal mental processes.
What did Pavlov discover in his classical conditioning research?
Dogs salivated before food was given; food was unconditioned stimulus and salivation unconditioned response.
What happened when Pavlov rang a bell before feeding dogs?
The bell became a conditioned stimulus and caused salivation, a conditioned response.
What is operant conditioning?
Learning where behaviour is shaped and maintained by consequences.
What animals did Skinner use in his operant conditioning studies?
Rats and pigeons were used in Skinner’s box experiments.
What is positive reinforcement?
Receiving a reward when a certain behaviour is performed.
What is negative reinforcement?
Occurs when an animal or human avoids something negative.
What is punishment in operant conditioning?
Punishment is an unpleasant consequence that follows a behaviour to reduce its occurrence.
What is classical conditioning?
Learning by association when two stimuli are repeatedly paired (unconditioned + neutral stimulus).
What is Skinner’s box?
A controlled environment where animals press a lever for food or to avoid shock.
What is a real-life application of operant conditioning?
Token economy systems used in prisons and institutions.
What ethical issues are raised by Skinner’s box and Little Albert studies?
They caused harm, breaching ethical guidelines, but insights gained may outweigh the issues.
How scientific is the behaviourist approach?
Uses controlled lab experiments to collect reliable data, reducing confounding variables and increasing reliability and internal validity.
