behaviourist approach

• what is the behaviourist approach ?

  a way of explaining behaviour in terms of what is observable and in terms of learning
• what is classical conditioning ?

  learning by association. occurs when two stimuli are repeatedly paired together.

  an unconditioned (unlearned) stimulus (UCS) and a new ‘neutral’ stimulus (NS). the neutral stimulus eventually produces the same response that was first produced by the unconditioned. (unlearnt) stimulus alone.
• what is operant conditioning ?

  a form in learning which behaviour is shaped and maintained by its consequences. Possible consequences of behaviour include reinforcement (positive or negative) and punishment.
• what is reinforcement?

  a consequence of behaviour that increased the likelihood of that behaviour being repeated. can be positive or negative
• assumptions

  • behaviour approach is only interested in studying behaviour that can be observed & measured. ignores mental processes as they were deemed irrelevant
  • john b. watson (1913) rejected introspection as it were too vague n difficult to measure.
  • behaviourists tried to maintain more control and objectivity within research n relied on lab studies
  • believe ALL behaviour is LEARNT
  • describe babies mind as a ‘blank state’
  • following Darwin, behaviourists suggested basic processes that govern learning are the same for all species so in research animals replaced humans.
• classical conditioning - PAVLOV’S RESEARCH (1927)

  • classical conditioning was first demonstrated by ivan pavlov (1927)
  • he showed dogs can be conditioned to salivate to the sound of a bell if that sound was repeatedly presented at the same time dogs were given food
  • Thus, pavlov was able to show how a neutral stimulus, eg bell, can come to elicit a new learned response (conditioned response) through association
• operant conditioning - SKINNER’S RESEARCH (1953)

  • B.F Skinner (1953) suggested that learning is an active process whereby humans and animals operate on their environment. it is shaped by its consequences:
  • positive reinforcement
  • negative reinforcement
  • punishment
  • positive and negative reinforcement increase likelihood behaviour will be repeated. punishment decreases likelihood
• what is positive reinforcement ? (SKINNER’S RESEARCH 1953)


  receiving a reward when a certain behaviour is performed
• what is negative reinforcement ? (SKINNER’S RESEARCH 1953)


  occurs when animal/human avoids something unpleasant by doing a certain behaviour. outcome is positive .
• what is punishment ? (SKINNER’S RESEARCH 1953)


  unpleasant consequenc of behaviour
• EVALUATION: well-controlled research

  • one strength is behaviourist approach is based on well controlled research. they focus on the measurement of observable behaviour in highly controlled lab settings. this meant all other extraneous variables were removed. suggests behaviourists have scientific credibility.
  • COUNTERPOINT: behaviourists oversimplified learning process. by reducing behaviour to such simple components, they ignored an importance influence on learning, human thought.
• EVALUATION: real-world application

  • strength is behaviourist approach principals of conditioning have been applied to real world behaviour problems
  • eg, operant conditioning is the basis of token economy systems that r used in institutions, such as prisons. it works by rewarding behaviour with tokens that can be exchanged for privileges
• EVALUATION: environmental determinism

  • one limitation is the behaviourist approach sees all behaviour as conditioned by past conditioning experience.
  • skinner suggested everything we do in the sum of our total reinforcement history.
  • this ignores any possible influence free will may have on behaviour (skinner said free will is an illusion)
  • ignores influence of conscious decision making processes on behaviour
• EVALUATION: ethical issues

  • many questioned the ethics of conducting such investigations. animals were housed in harsh, cramped conditions and deliberately kept below their natural weight so they were always hungry