Behaviourist approach

• Basic assumptions:

  • the mind is a blank slate at birth
  • a person's direct experience of their environment is what shapes their behaviour
• Key features:

  • classical conditioning
  • operant conditioning
• Aim of Pavlov's research - to investigate the effect of a new stimulus on the salivation reflex in dogs
• Procedure of Pavlov's research:

  1. dogs were repeatedly shown food when a bell rang
  2. the bell was rang without food present
  3. the amount of saliva produced by the dogs in response to the bell was measured
  4. compared the amount of the saliva produced before and after the pairing of food with the bell
• Findings of Pavlov's research:

  • initially the bell (NS) did not cause salivation; it was the food (UCS) that caused salivation (UCR)
  • the dogs learnt to associate the food with the bell due to repeated pairings
  • over time just the bell (CS) caused salivation (CR)
• Conclusion of Pavlov's research - existing involuntary reflexes can become associated with a new stimulus
• Classical conditioning - a type of learning in which an existing involuntary reflex can become associated with a new stimulus
• Key terms in classical conditioning:

  • NS (neutral stimulus) - does not automatically trigger a reflex response
  • UCS (unconditioned stimulus) - triggers a natural reflex response
  • UCR (unconditioned response) - a natural response that doesn't need to be learnt
  • CS (conditioned stimulus) - triggers a learnt response
  • CR (conditioned response) - a response learnt through association
• Aim of Skinner's research - investigate the effect of reinforcement and punishment on rats' lever pushing
• Procedure of Skinner's research:

  1. rats were placed in a Skinner box; this contained a response lever which could trigger the release of a food pellet and a metal floor which could be electrocuted
  2. measured how frequently the rat pressed the lever
• Findings of Skinner's research:

  • reward of food pellets and avoidance of electric shocks increased the frequency of lever pressing
  • punishment of electric shocks decreased the frequency in lever pressing
• Conclusion of Skinner's research - the rats' lever pressing was influenced by the consequences it received or avoided
• Operant conditioning - suggests that voluntary behaviour is the result of learning through consequences
• Types of operant conditioning:

  • positive reinforcement
  • negative reinforcement
  • punishment
• Positive reinforcement:

  • behaviour is followed by a pleasant consequence
  • increases the likelihood of repetition of behaviour
• Negative reinforcement:

  • behaviour is followed by the avoidance of an unpleasant consequence
  • increases the likelihood of repetition of behaviour
• Punishment:

  • behaviour is followed by an unpleasant consequence
  • decreases the likelihood of repetition of behaviour
• 6 A01 points:

  • mind is a blank slate at birth; a person's direct experiences influence their behaviour
  • Pavlov - initially a bell did not cause salivation in dogs, food did
  • Pavlov - dogs learnt to associate food with a bell; over time, only the bell caused salivation
  • classical conditioning - existing involuntary reflexes can be associated with a new stimulus
  • operant conditioning - voluntary behaviour was the result of learning through consequence
  • positive reinforcement - behaviour is followed by a pleasant consequence, increasing likelihood of repetition
• Supporting evidence:

  P - strength, evidence to support it

  E - rats licked nicotine water, addiction onset by p.r

  E - relapse caused by c.c, cues cause anticipation of pleasure

  C - credible explanation, empirically tested
• Opposing research:

  P - limitation, research to oppose it

  E - OCD, MZ = 68%, DZ = 31%

  E - genetic basis, different number of genes shared

  C - incomplete explanation, doesn't acknowledge genetics
• Applications:

  P - strength, s.d, token economy

  E - c.c is basis of s.d, replaces learnt fear response with relaxation

  E - o.c is basis of token economy, reward behaviour with tokens

  C - reinforces conclusion of behaviour learnt through association and consequences
• Doesn't acknowledge:

  P - limitation, CBT

  E - CBT, irrational thoughts are challenged

  E - reinforces idea that irrational beliefs have a role in phobias + depression

  C - need to consider thoughts/cognitive aspects and biological reasons