The behaviourist approach - AO1

Question 1

What are the three assumptions of the behaviorist theory?

Answer 1

• We are born as a “blank slate” and all behaviours (save a few innate reflexes) are learnt
• All species (humans and animals) learn in the same way, through stimulus response reactions
• The mind is irrelevant as internal processes cannot be directly observed - not objective

Question 2

What are the methods of the behaviourist approach?

3x

Answer 2

• Mainly controlled laboratory experiments
• Produce quantifiable data: numerical observation
• Use animals to study something

Question 3

What is classical conditioning?

Answer 3

Learning by association

• Two stimuli are repeatedly paired together and linked to a natural response
• Mostly explains aqcuisition of behaviour
• Learning is unconscious and involuntary

Question 4

What did Pavlov (1927) do?

Answer 4

• When dogs see food - UCS - they automatically salivate - an UCR
• NS (e.g a bell) does not produce salivation
• During conditioning, food (leads to UCR) was repeatedly paired with the sound of a bell (NS)
• Eventually, the dogs would salivate to the sound of the bell alone, as they associated the bell with food
• Bell had become a CS and salivation a CR

Question 5

What is operant conditioning?

Answer 5

Learning by consequences

• Behaviours are rewarded to increase the likliehood of them happening again or, punished to reduce the behaviour
• Explains maintenence of behaviour
• Learning is conscious and voluntary

Question 6

What did Skinner (1953) do?

Answer 6

1. Placed a hungry rat in a Skinner’s box (controlled environment) containing a lever
2. Rat explored the box, trying to escape, critically pushing the lever by accident
3. The behaviour of pushing the lever would either be increased or decreased

Question 7

What is positive reinforcement?

In skinner’s study

Answer 7

Pressing the gave rat reward of food pellets - increased pushing lever

Question 8

What is negative reinforcement?

In skinner’s study

Answer 8

Pressing lever would prevent an electric shock when a light came on - increase pushing lever

Question 9

What is punishment?

In Skinner’s study

Answer 9

Pressing lever caused electric shock - decreased pushing lever