The Learning Approach : Behaviourism

Question 1

Basic assumptions of the learning approach

Answer 1

• all behaviour is learned
  -we are all born a blank slate
• only behaviour which is observable should be studied
  -sees psychology as a science
  -there is little difference between the way humans and animals learn

Question 2

Define classical conditioning

Answer 2

The process of learning through association of stimuli to produce conditioned or learned responses

Question 3

Operant conditioning

Answer 3

The process of learning through reinforcing behaviour through positive or negative reinforcement

Question 4

Positive reinforcement

Answer 4

Giving something pleasurable as in response to a behaviour. Makes the behaviour MORE likely to occur

Question 5

Punishment

Answer 5

Giving something unpleasant in response to a behaviour. Makes the behaviour LESS likely to be repeated

Question 6

Negative reinforcement

Answer 6

Removing something nasty/uncomfortable in response to a behaviour. Makes the behaviour MORE likely to be repeated

Question 7

Strengths of behaviourism

Answer 7

-have evidence to support it,eg skinners rats and pavlovs dog
-encourages good behaviour
- many studies done & repeated- supporting evidence
-objective
- useful application

Question 8

Limitations of behaviourism

Answer 8

• research on animals could be argued that the assumptions aren’t valid for humans as human have complex emotions
• can’t be used to explain all human behaviours
  -very simplistic
• no explanation how learning happens

Question 9

Skinners experiment - rat

Answer 9

• a rat is placed in a box to explore.
• at some point by accident the rat will press the lever in the box
  -this releases a pallet of food
• the rat learns by pressing the lever it will give them food
• they begin to press the lever more frequently
• skinner managed to decrease lever pushing in the rat by electrifying the floor of the box each time the lever was pressed
• skinner also experimented with playing a pound noise into the box, this would stop when the rat pressed the lever and again resulted in more frequent lever pressing by the rat.

Positive reinforcement = releasing a pallet of food
Punishment = electrifying the floor
Negative reinforcement = playing loud noise