Unit 1 - Behaviourist Approach Flashcards
(23 cards)
3 assumptions of the behaviourist app
- Blank slate
- Behaviour learnt through conditioning
- Humans and animals learn in similar ways
Latin word for blank slate
Tabular rasa
2 types of conditioning
Operant
Classical
Classical conditioning involves….
Learning behaviour via association
Operant conditioning involves…
Behaviours learnt via reinforcement
ie- positive, negative, punishment
Behaviourist approach link to human behaviour
Phobias/anorexia
Relationship formation
Therapy of the behaviourist approach
Systematic desensitisation
3 steps of SD
- Counter-conditioning
- Desensitisation hierarchy
- Work through hierarchy
2 types of ways of approaching phobia stimulus in SD
Invivo - actual items
Invitro- imagined items
2 strengths of SD
+ ethical (client in control)
+ supporting evidence
4 weaknesses of SD
- unethical (distressing situations)
- not effective for complex phobias
- reductionist
- temporary cure
Classic study of the behaviourist app
Watson & Rayner - conditioned emotional responses
Methodology of Watson & Rayner’s study
- controlled assessment in a controlled environment
- male infant, 9 months old
Procedures of Watston & Rayner’s study
- Emotional tests
- Establishing conditioned emo. response
- Testing conditioned emo. response
- Generalisation
- Changing environment
- Effect of time
What did Albert generalise his phobias to?
Rat
Rabbit
Cotton wool
What were the findings of Watson and Rayner’s study?
- Albert fell forward & jumped, burying his head
- withdrew hand when rat nuzzled it
- still played with the blocks
- in new environment fear less extreme
- avoided most objects except the blocks
What conclusions can be drawn from Watson & Rayner’s study
2 joint simulations in one week was enough to create fear
Fears ca be generalised
Strengths of Watson & rayner’s study
G R - lab based, scientific A - shows how phobias formed, developed techniques V - experimental validity (int) E - confidentiality
Weaknesses of Watson & Rayner’s study
G - single child, american, mal R A - V - limited ecological validity (ext) E - distress, no debrief, no withdrawal, lasting effects
What is the debate of the behaviourist approach?
Conditioning echinacea to control behaviour of children
5 areas to look at in the behaviourist debate
At home At school Peers Vulnerable groups Ethical/social/economic
Strengths of the behaviourist approach
N- U- useful, SD treatment R D S- scientific as includes key features of FORCE
Weaknesses of the behaviourist approach
N- nomothetic ignores individual difference
U
R- reductionist
D- environmentally deterministic, ignores free will
S
