Behaviourist approach

• Behaviourist approach rejected introspection.
• behaviourist approach uses scientific methods.
• Behaviour is explained through conditioning (learning)
• Classical conditioning is a typer of learning that occurs when a neutral stimulus is repeatedly paired with an unconditional stimulus, resulting in a new learned response.
• Reflexes: A natural stimulus is the unconditioned stimulus and the

  natural response is the unconditioned response.
• timing - NS has to be presented before UCS so it predicts UCS.
• extinction - UCR is permanent but CR may become extinct, CS produces CR without UCS being presented as learner learnt CS predicts UCS, when CS presented alone few times without UCS then CR no longer produced.
• spontaneous recovery - after extinction if CS and UCS are paired again then association is made more quickly than pairing first time.
• stimulus generalisation - when one animal conditioned, they’ll respond to other stimuli similar to CS.
• UCS (unconditioned stimulus) - natural stimulus
• NS ( neutral stimulus) - something that produces no response
• if NS presented just before UCS on multiple occasions then NS predicts UCS is ab to be presented.
• when NS predicts UCS is going to be presented, this results in NS becoming CS and eliciting a CR which is the same response as the UCS (even wo UCS presented)
• Behaviourists focus on observable events.
• 4 features of classical conditioning - timing, extinction, spontaneous recovery and stimulus generalisation.
• Eg 1 of classical conditioning - ‘Little Albert’ by Watson and Rayner.
• Eg 2 of classical conditioning - attachment theory
• eg 3 of classical conditioning - taste aversion ( John Garcia and Bob Koelling’s research with rats)
• Timing - CS must occur just before or at the same time as UCS
• Extinction - if CS occurs without UCS then it will no longer produce a CR
• Spontaneous Recovery - when an extinguished CR reappears after a period of rest
• Generalisation - responding to similar but different stimuli
• Operant Conditioning - learning through consequences of behaviour
• Operant conditioning is based on reinforcement (reward) and punishment.
• reinforcers make behaviour more likely to happen again
• punishment make behaviour less likely to happen again.
• Positive reinforcement - behaviour leads to pleasant consequence
• negative reinforcement - behaviour leads to removal of something negative.
• positive punishment - behaviour leads to unpleasant consequence.
• negative punishment - behaviour leads to something pleasant taken away.
• Continuous reinforcement schedule is most effective in establishing response.
• Partial reinforcement schedule is more effective in maintaining that response and avoiding extinction as it is realistic to reward every time.
• Strengths + weaknesses of behaviourist approach in PowerPoint.