The learning approach - Behaviourism Flashcards
(9 cards)
Assumption?
Humans are born as a blank slate.
What are the two features of the learning theory?
1) Classical conditioning
2) Operant conditioning
AO1: Classical conditioning
Pavlov explained how behaviour is learnt through stimulus, response and association. In this form of learning a neutral stimulus (produces no response) is paired with an unconditioned stimulus that produces an unconditioned response (this is automatic, not learnt). If this pairing is repeated, then the individual will learn to associate the neutral stimulus with the unconditioned stimulus. Therefore, the neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus which creates the conditioned response (this is learnt).
Pavlov showed that dogs could be conditioned to salivate to the sound of a bell. The unconditioned stimulus was the food. The unconditioned response was salivation. The neutral stimulus was the bell as this didn’t mean anything to the dogs at first. (produced no response). During the experiment the dogs were presented with the food once again. However, this time Pavlov rang a bell at the same time. He repeated this association many times. The dogs learnt to associate the food (UCS) with the noise of the bell (NS).
AO1: Operant conditioning
Operant conditioning is another way we can learn behaviour which emphasised the importance of consequence – learning through rewards, reinforcement and punishments. Skinner explained how behaviour is influenced by the consequences of our own actions. He focused on the importance of reinforcement in increasing a behaviour and punishment in stopping behaviour.
Positive reinforcement – when a
reward is given for a behaviour, this behaviour is encouraged so the behaviour is repeated to gain the same reward. A hungry rat placed in Skinner’s box; every time the rat pressed the lever the rat was rewarded with food. This behaviour was repeated as the rat was conditioned to press the lever through positive reinforcement to get the same pleasant outcome.
Negative reinforcement - performing a behaviour to avoid an unpleasant consequence so the behaviour is repeated to avoid the unpleasant consequence again. Skinner ran an electrical current across the floor which caused the rat discomfort. The rat would move around until it knocked the lever. The lever would stop the current; the rat would repeat this behaviour as it had learned by pressing the lever it would avoid the unpleasant consequence of pain.
What are the evaluations for the learning approach?
1) Environmental determinism
2) Environmental reductionism
3) Practical applications
4) Scientific methods
AO3: Environmental determinism
The behavioural approach to explaining behaviour is that it can be criticised for having environmental determinism. This approach states that an individuals behaviour is controlled by external factors of associations with stimulus and response (classical conditioning or rewards and reinforcements (operant conditioning) which inevitable causes behaviour. This neglects the role of free will and choice individuals have, feeling like they have no control over their behaviour. This limits the appropriateness of the behaviours approach to explaining human behaviour.
AO3: Environmental reductionism
A weakness of the behaviourist approach to explaining human behaviour is that it can be criticised for having environmental reductionism. This is because the approach breaks down learning complex human behaviour into simple basic units of learning through stimulus response and associations (classical conditioning) and rewards and reinforcements (operant conditioning). This neglects the holistic approach which would take into account how a persons social and cultural context would influence behaviour. This limits the behavioural approach to explaining behaviour as it doesn’t allow us to understand behaviour in context.
AO3: Practical applications
A strength of the behavioural approach to explain behaviour is that it has practical applications. The principle of the theory that behaviour is due to learning through associations with stimulus and response in classical conditioning has led to the treatment of systematic desensitisation. This is used to treat phobias by unlearning a maladaptive behavioural association with a phobia by gradually exposing them to their phobia while putting relaxation techniques in place. Therefore the behaviourist approach to explain behaviour is an important part of applied psychology as it helps to treat people in the real world.
AO3: Scientific methods
A strength of the behaviourist approach is that it uses scientific methods so it has scientific enquiry when investigating human behaviour. For example Pavlov used controlled laboratory experiments with objective and empirical techniques such as measuring the amount of saliva the dogs produced through associations in classical conditioning. This increases the overall internal validity of the behaviourist approach to explaining behaviour raising psychology’s scientific behaviour.
