Behaviourism

• What does the behaviourist approach suggest about the study of psychology?


  It should restrict itself to studying observable behaviours that can be measured directly.
• Why are unobservable mental processes not a concern for behaviourists?


  Because they focus solely on observable behaviours.
• What do behaviourists believe about human behaviour at birth?


  They believe we are born as blank slates.
• What are the two forms of learning according to behaviourists?


  • Classical conditioning
  • Operant conditioning
• What is classical conditioning?


  It is learning through association.
• Who first described classical conditioning?

  Russian physiologist Pavlov.
• What are the components of a natural reflex in classical conditioning?


  A stimulus (UCS) and its naturally associated response (UCR).
• What is a neutral stimulus (NS)?


  A stimulus that would not naturally cause any response.
• What happens when a neutral stimulus (NS) is paired with an unconditioned stimulus (UCS)?


  It becomes associated with the UCS.
• What is the outcome of consistent pairing of a neutral stimulus (NS) with an unconditioned stimulus (UCS)?


  The NS will eventually trigger the unconditioned response (UCR).
• What is the conditioned stimulus (CS) in classical conditioning?


  It is the neutral stimulus (NS) after it has been associated with the UCS.
• What is the conditioned response (CR)?


  It is the response to the conditioned stimulus (CS).
• What are the stages of classical conditioning?


  • Before conditioning: UCS > UCR, NS > No response
  • During conditioning: UCS + NS > UCR
  • After conditioning: CS > CR
• What did Pavlov demonstrate with his experiments on dogs?


  Dogs could be conditioned to salivate to the sound of a bell.
• What are the components of Pavlov's classical conditioning experiment?


  • Before conditioning: Food (UCS) > Salivation (UCR), Bell (NS) > No response
  • During conditioning: Food (UCS) + Bell (NS) > Salivation (UCR)
  • After conditioning: Bell (CS) > Salivation (CR)
• What is operant conditioning?


  It is learning through consequences.
• What happens if a behaviour is reinforced according to operant conditioning?


  It is more likely that the behaviour will be repeated.
• What are the two main types of reinforcement in operant conditioning?


  • Positive reinforcement
  • Negative reinforcement
• What is positive reinforcement?


  It occurs when an animal receives something pleasant for performing a behaviour.
• What is negative reinforcement?


  It occurs when an animal avoids something unpleasant by performing a behaviour.
• What happens if a behaviour is punished according to operant conditioning?


  It is less likely that the behaviour will be repeated.
• What is punishment in the context of operant conditioning?


  It occurs when an animal receives something unpleasant for performing a behaviour.
• What did Skinner develop to investigate operant conditioning?


  A special cage called a ‘Skinner box’.
• How did Skinner demonstrate positive reinforcement in his experiments?


  • A rat was placed in a Skinner box.
  • It received a food pellet every time it pressed the lever.
  • The rat continually pressed the lever.
• How did Skinner demonstrate negative reinforcement in his experiments?


  • A rat was placed in a Skinner box.
  • It avoided an electric shock every time it pressed the lever.
  • The rat continually pressed the lever.
• How did Skinner demonstrate punishment in his experiments?


  • A rat was placed in a Skinner box.
  • It received an electric shock every time it pressed the lever.
  • The rat avoided the lever.
• What is one strength of the behaviourist approach regarding scientific credibility?


  It increased the scientific credibility of psychology by using methods of natural sciences.
• How have the principles of conditioning been applied in real life?


  They are the basis of token economy systems in institutions.
• What do token economy systems do?


  They reward appropriate behaviours with tokens that can be exchanged for privileges.
• What is one weakness of the behaviourist approach regarding human behaviour?


  It has a very simple view, suggesting behaviour is influenced by conditioning alone.
• What is a criticism regarding the ethical issues of behaviourist experiments?


  Animals were exposed to stressful and aversive conditions.
• What is the argument against the justification of animal treatment in behaviourist experiments?


  What we learn from these experiments does not justify the way the animals were treated.