Behaviourist Approach

• What is a defence mechanism?

  A technique used by the unconscious mind to protect us from uncomfortable thoughts, feelings, and desires.
• What are the psychosexual stages of development?


  The stages through which personality develops, characterized by the libido centering itself in different areas of the body.
• What happens if conflicts during the psychosexual stages are unresolved?

  Unresolved conflicts lead to personality impacts in later life.
• What is a causal relationship?

  A relationship that can be established through a controlled experiment, determining that changes in the independent variable (IV) cause changes in the dependent variable (DV).
• What are the key components of the behaviourist approach in psychology?

  • Focus on observable behaviors
  • Learning through conditioning
  • Emphasis on environmental stimuli
  • Two parts: Classical conditioning and Operant conditioning
• What is classical conditioning?

  A learning process where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a naturally occurring stimulus to evoke a similar response.
• Who first described classical conditioning?

  Ivan Pavlov.
• What is the unconditioned stimulus (UCS)?

  A stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers a response without any prior learning.
• What is the unconditioned response (UCR)?


  The automatic, unlearned reaction to an unconditioned stimulus.
• What is a neutral stimulus (NS)?


  A stimulus that does not initially elicit a specific response before conditioning occurs.
• What are the two main parts of the behaviourist approach?

  Classical conditioning and operant conditioning
• What is a conditioned stimulus (CS)?

  An initially neutral stimulus that, through repeated pairing with an unconditioned stimulus, comes to elicit a conditioned response.
• Who founded the behaviourist approach?

  Watson
• What is a conditioned response (CR)?

  The learned reaction to a conditioned stimulus after it has been repeatedly paired with an unconditioned stimulus.
• What does the behaviourist approach argue about behaviour?

  Behaviour should be studied in an objective way
• According to the behaviourist approach, what is the source of all behaviour?


  All behaviour is the result of learning
• What is generalization in classical conditioning?

  The tendency for a conditioned response to occur in response to stimuli similar to, but not identical to, the original conditioned stimulus.
• What is operant conditioning?

  A learning process where behaviours are modified through consequences
• What is discrimination in classical conditioning?

  The ability to distinguish between similar stimuli and respond only to the specific conditioned stimulus.
• What is the effect of positive reinforcement on behaviour?

  It increases the likelihood of the behaviour being repeated
• What is extinction in classical conditioning?

  The gradual weakening and eventual disappearance of a conditioned response when the conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus.
• What is the effect of negative reinforcement on behaviour?

  It increases the likelihood of the behaviour being repeated
• What is spontaneous recovery in classical conditioning?

  The reappearance of a previously extinguished conditioned response after a period of time without exposure to the conditioned stimulus.
• What is punishment in the context of operant conditioning?

  A consequence that decreases the likelihood of a behaviour being repeated
• What are the two types of punishment?

  Positive punishment and negative punishment
• What is positive punishment?

  Adding something negative following a behaviour
• What is negative punishment?

  Removing something positive following a behaviour
• What are the key terms related to classical conditioning?

  • Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)
  • Unconditioned Response (UCR)
  • Neutral Stimulus (NS)
  • Conditioned Stimulus (CS)
  • Conditioned Response (CR)
  • Generalisation
  • Discrimination
  • Extinction
  • Spontaneous Recovery
• What is the focus of behaviourism in psychology?

  Behaviourism focuses on observable behaviors rather than internal mental states.
• What are the four schedules of reinforcement?


  1. Fixed Ratio: Reinforcement after a definite number of responses.
  2. Variable Ratio: Number of responses needed for reinforcement varies.
  3. Fixed Interval: Reinforcement after a fixed time.
  4. Variable Interval: Time between reinforcement varies.
• What does the term "Tabula Rasa" refer to in the behaviourist approach?

  It refers to the idea that we are born as a "blank slate" and all behavior is the result of learning.
• What is the outcome of a fixed ratio schedule of reinforcement?

  Activity slows after reinforcement and then picks back up
• What is the outcome of a variable ratio schedule of reinforcement?

  Greatest activity of all schedules
• What is the significance of controlling extraneous variables in the behaviourist approach?

  It helps to ensure that the study of behavior is objective and scientific.
• Who founded the behaviourist approach?

  John B. Watson.
• What is the outcome of a fixed interval schedule of reinforcement?

  Activity increases as the deadline nears
• What is the outcome of a variable interval schedule of reinforcement?

  Steady activity results
• What is the role of reinforcement in the behaviourist approach?

  Reinforcement shapes behavior through rewards or punishments.
• What is the difference between classical conditioning and operant conditioning?

  Classical conditioning involves learning through association, while operant conditioning involves learning through consequences.
• What do Skinner boxes allow researchers to test?

  Operant conditioning