LA : The Behaviourist Approach

• Behaviourist Approach


  Way of explaining behaviour - what you can observe
• Classical Conditioning


  Learning by association

  • Two stimuli repeatedly paired together
• Operant Conditioning


  Behaviour shaped and maintained by its consequence

  • Consequences include positive and negative reinforcement and punishment
• Reinforcement


  Consequence of behaviour that increases likelihood of that behaviour being repeated. Can be positive or negative
• How did behaviourists try to maintain more control and objectivity within their research?


  Lab studies
• How is classical conditioning learned?


  Through association
• Operant conditioning - What did B.F. Skinner suggest that learning was?


  An active process whereby humans and animals operate on their environment
• How is behaviour shaped in operant conditioning?


  By consequences
• What is positive reinforcement?


  Receiving a reward when a certain behaviour is performed - like receiving praise from a teacher
• What is negative reinforcement?


  Occurs when we avoid something unpleasant

  • Outcome is positive experience - e.g. when student hands in essay so they wont be told off, avoidance of something unpleasant is the negative reinforcement
• What is punishment?


  Unpleasant consequence of behaviour
• What is one strength of the behaviourist approach?


  Based on well controlled research
• What is a problem with the behaviourist approach?


  Behaviourists may have oversimplified the learning process