The Learning Approach - Behaviourism

Question 1

what type of approach should be used when studying behaviour?

Answer 1

an objective and scientific approach which can be observed and measured

Question 2

what cannot be studied and why?

Answer 2

Mental processes because they can not be observed so they should not be studied. (introspection was rejected for this reason)

Question 3

what type of experiments are used in this approach and why?

Answer 3

behaviourists used lab experiments to maintain control and objectivity

Question 4

people are ______ ____ at birth

Answer 4

tabula rasa

Question 5

behaviours can be explained at?

Answer 5

the S-R level

Question 6

what is the behaviourist approach?

Answer 6

a way of explaining behaviour in terms of what is observable and in terms of learning.

Question 7

what is classical conditioning?

Answer 7

learning by association which occurs when two stimuli are repeatedly paired together (unconditioned and neutral)

Question 8

what is reinforcement?

Answer 8

a consequence of behaviour that increases the likelihood of that behaviour being repeated.

Question 9

how did pavlov present classical conditioning?

Answer 9

pavlov showed how dogs could be conditioned to salivate to the sound of a bell if the bell was sounded repeatedly every time the dogs were given food.

Question 10

what is the order of classical conditioning?

Answer 10

unconditioned stimulus > unconditioned response > neutral stimulus > no conditioned response > (conditioning) > conditioned stimulus > conditioned response.

Question 11

what is extinction?

Answer 11

when the conditioned response no longer occurs after repeated pairings without the unconditioned stimulus.

Question 12

what is spontaneous recovery?

Answer 12

spontaneous recovery is where a previously learned behaviour recurs, in the absence of a new reinforcer.

Question 13

what is generalisation?

Answer 13

occurs when there is a small difference in the presented stimulus and the original conditioned stimulus.

Question 14

what is discrimination?

Answer 14

the opposite of generalisation. discrimination happens when a conditioned response does not occur when there is a difference between the presented stimulus and the original conditioned stimulus (if there were a bell with a different tone and not awarded with food then the dog would not salivate to the bell)

Question 15

what is operant conditioning?

Answer 15

a theory of learning where behaviour is influenced by its consequences

Question 16

who created the theory of operant conditioning?

Answer 16

BF Skinner

Question 17

what is positive reinforcement?

Answer 17

behaviour that is followed by something unpleasant (e.g praise for a good essay)

Question 18

what is negative reinforcement?

Answer 18

a behaviour that is followed by the removal of something unpleasant (e.g going home on time to avoid being grounded)

Question 19

what is punishment

Answer 19

(not a type of reinforcement) a behaviour which is followed by something unpleasant (e.g being grounded for being home late)

Question 20

what increases the likelihood of behaviour being repeated?

Answer 20

positive and negative reinforcement. (punishment decreases it)

Question 21

what is the meaning of fixed ratio?

Answer 21

reinforcement depends on a definite number of responses (being paid £10 for every 10 items produced)

Question 22

what is the outcome of fixed ratio?

Answer 22

activity slows after reinforcement and then picks up

Question 23

what is the meaning of variable ratio?

Answer 23

number of responses needed for reinforcement varies (sometimes winning on a fruit machine)

Question 24

what outcome does variable ratio have?

Answer 24

what outcome does variable ratio have?

Question 25

what is the meaning of fixed interval?

Answer 25

reinforcement depends on a fixed time (getting paid every friday)

Question 26

what is the outcome of fixed interval?

Answer 26

activity increases as deadline nears

Question 27

what is the meaning of variable interval?

Answer 27

time between reinforcement varies (waiting for a big wave to surf on)

Question 28

what is the outcome of variable interval?

Answer 28

steady activity results.

Question 29

one strength of the behaviourist approach?

Answer 29

scientific credibility - behaviourism focussed on the measurement of observable behaviour within highly controlled lab settings. as it focusses on objectivity and replication, it has influenced the development of psych as a science.

Question 30

another strength of the behaviourist approach?

Answer 30

it can be applied to many areas such as gambling, phobias and practical applications. e.g operant conditioning and token awarding systems in prisons and psychiatric hospitals.

Question 31

one weakness of the behaviourist approach?

Answer 31

most of the data that has been collected was used on animals; therefore, it is hard to generalise the same to humans because it ignores important mental processes such as innate predispositions so it’s better for explaining non- animal behaviour rather then human behaviour.

Question 32

another weakness of the behaviourist approach?

Answer 32

it is environmentally deterministic. this means that it does not acknowledge the nature side of the debate like the role of our genes and therefore cannot explain all human behaviour through learning.