The Behaviourist Approach Flashcards
(25 cards)
What are the assumptions of the behaviourist approach?
- All behaviour is learned from experience and therefore can be changed.
- Only measurable and observable behaviour should be considered.
- It is useful to study animals to understand behaviour as the same processes produce learning for both humans and other animals.
What are the two theories of the behaviourist approach?
Classical conditioning
Operant conditioning
What is Classical Conditioning?
Learning through association - two stimuli are paired to produce the same response.
Explain what happens before learning in the process of classical conditioning.
Before Learning:
An unconditioned stimulus (UCS) produces a reflex response called an unconditioned response (UCR). A stimulus that produces no response is called a neutral stimulus (NS).
Explain what happens during learning in the process of classical conditioning.
During Learning:
A neutral stimulus (NS) is paired with an unconditioned stimulus (UCS) i.e. they both occur together. The unconditioned response (UCR) occurs in response to the UCS.
Explain what happens after learning in the process of classical conditioning.
After Learning:
Through associating the NS with the UCS, the NS now elicits (produces) the same response. This response is now referred to as the conditioned response (CR). The NS is now called the
conditioned stimulus (CS).
What is Operant Conditioning?
This is learning by consequence. Reinforcement is one way in which ‘learning by consequence’ occurs.
What are the two types of reinforcement?
Positive reinforcement
Negative reinforcement
Who investigated classical conditioning?
Ivan Pavlov
What did Pavlov research and why?
Ivan Pavlov was researching digestion in dogs and had designed apparatus to measure salivation. He noticed that when he entered the room the dog’s salivation increased, whereas initially the dog would only salivate at the presence of food.
Explain the method of Pavlov’s research.
Pavlov investigated why this had happened by ringing a bell
(NS) at the same time as presenting food to the dog (UCS).
The dog would salivate in response to the food (UCR). Pavlov
found that following repeated ‘pairings’ of the bell (NS) and
food (UCS), when he rang the bell without any food being
present (CS), the dog still salivated (CR). Pavlov was able to
show that through the learning of an ‘association’ between
two stimuli (NS + UCS) a ‘conditioned response’ (CR) can be
produced. Pavlov’s findings led to the theory of classical
conditioning.
What else did Pavlov find out and what is this known as?
Pavlov also discovered that once an animal has been conditioned, they will also respond to other stimuli that are similar to the CS. This is known as stimulus generalisation.
What else can also occur in classical conditioning?
Extinction can also take place. Pavlov discovered that, unlike the UCR, the CR does not become permanently established as a response. After a few presentations of the CS in the absence of the UCS, it loses its ability to produce the CR.
Who investigated operant conditioning?
Skinner
What does reinforcement do?
Reinforcement strengthens learning, increasing the frequency of
behaviour.
What is positive reinforcement?
Where something rewarding is gained as a result of performing a
behaviour, so the frequency of the behaviour increases. For example, as a consequence of doing well in a test a student gains a sense of pride; this increases the frequency of revising well in future.
What is negative reinforcement?
Where something unpleasant is removed or avoided as a result of
performing a behaviour, so the frequency of the behaviour increases. For example, hitting the button on an alarm clock stops the unpleasant ringing; this increases the frequency of hitting the button in future when the alarm clock rings.
How did Skinner investigate positive reinforcement?
Every time the rat activated a lever within the box it was rewarded with a food pellet. The rat would be positively reinforced for pressing the lever (by receiving food) so this behaviour is likely to be repeated and becomes a learned behaviour. The food pellets act as a positive reinforcer for pressing the lever.
How did Skinner investigate negative reinforcement?
Skinner also showed how rats could be conditioned to perform the
same behaviour to avoid an unpleasant stimulus, for example an electric shock. The rat was electrocuted through the use of an electric grid in the box. However, when the rat pressed the lever, the electric shocks stopped. Through negative reinforcement the rat learned that
by pressing the lever in order to avoid the electric shock and so the lever-pressing behaviour is likely to be repeated.
What are the strengths of the Behaviourist Approach?
The use of scientific methodology.
It has practical applications.
What are the limitations of the Behaviourist Approach?
The extrapolation of animal research.
It is reductionist.
Explain the strength of the use of scientific methodology.
P - One strength of the behaviourist approach is the use of scientific
methodology.
E - The behaviourist approach studies observable and measurable behaviours, and so is said to be objective.
E - This means it is free from researcher bias and the findings will not
be affected by personal judgement.
E - This suggests that the research is objective which improves the validity of the findings.
R - This is a strength as this means it can be repeated and the results can then be checked for consistency, known as reliability
Explain the strength of practical applications.
P - One strength of the behaviourist approach is that it has practical applications.
E - Many studies have shown how behaviour can be changed using conditioning and this knowledge has then been used to modify behaviour in the real world.
E - Systematic desensitisation is effective in treating phobias and is structured from the principles of classical conditioning.
E - By creating a new association through classical conditioning, an individual can learn to replace the conditioned response of fear with comfort and relaxation.
R - This is a strength as both classical and operant conditioning has been used in a practical way to help modify maladaptive behaviour.
Explain the limitation of the extrapolation of animal research.
P - One limitation of the behaviourist approach is the
extrapolation of animal research.
E - Using animal research and then applying the findings to
humans may not be an appropriate method of collecting accurate findings.
E - For example, humans have very complex behaviours such as language acquisition and abstract cognitions that mean we are not the same as rats and pigeons.
E - Some psychologists argue that as humans are
qualitatively different to other animals this is unsuitable.
R - This is a limitation as using the findings of animal studies to explain human behaviour is not efficient because of the differences that exist.
