The Behaviourist Approach

• What does the behaviourist approach focus on?

  Measurable and observable behaviours
• Why are mental processes considered irrelevant in the behaviourist approach?

  Because the approach only focuses on observable behaviours
• What do behaviourists believe about how behaviours are acquired?


  All behaviours are learned
• What does the 'blank slate' concept imply in behaviourism?


  Babies start without any innate behaviours and learn through experience
• How does Darwin's Theory of Evolution relate to behaviourism?

  Behaviourists believe basic learning processes are the same across all species
• Who was an early behaviourist that rejected introspection?


  John B. Watson
• Why did Watson reject introspection?


  He found it too vague and difficult to measure
• What type of studies do behaviourists rely on for research?


  Lab studies to maintain objectivity and control
• What are the two forms of learning in behaviourism?

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


  Learning through association between two stimuli
• Who first demonstrated classical conditioning?


  Ivan Pavlov
• What was the main finding of Pavlov's experiment with dogs?


  • Dogs could be conditioned to salivate at the sound of a bell
  • The bell became a conditioned stimulus
  • Salivation in response to the bell was a conditioned response
• What was the unconditioned stimulus in Pavlov's experiment?


  Food
• What was the unconditioned response in Pavlov's experiment?


  Salivation
• What was the neutral stimulus in Pavlov's experiment before conditioning?


  The bell
• What happened after Pavlov conditioned the dogs?


  The dogs salivated to the sound of the bell alone
• What was the purpose of the Little Albert experiment?


  • To demonstrate that classical conditioning applies to humans
  • Showed that fear could be conditioned
  • Evidence of generalization of fear responses
• Who conducted the Little Albert experiment?

  Watson and Rayner
• What was Little Albert's initial reaction to the stimuli presented to him?


  He was unafraid of all stimuli
• What was paired with the white rat during the conditioning sessions?


  A hammer striking a steel bar
• What was the result of the conditioning sessions on Little Albert?


  He cried and crawled away when seeing the rat
• What does generalization mean in the context of Little Albert's experiment?


  Albert developed phobias of objects similar to the rat
• What are the key concepts of operant conditioning?


  • Behaviour that is rewarded is likely to be repeated
  • Behaviour that is punished occurs less frequently
  • Positive reinforcement increases behaviour
  • Negative reinforcement avoids unpleasant consequences
• What is positive reinforcement?


  Behaviour is rewarded, leading to an increase in that behaviour
• What is negative reinforcement?


  Positive outcome when avoiding an unpleasant consequence
• What is punishment in the context of operant conditioning?


  An unpleasant consequence that decreases the frequency of a behaviour
• What are some problems associated with punishment?


  It can suppress behaviour, cause aggression, and create fear
• What was the main finding of Skinner's rat experiment?


  • Rats learned to press a lever for food
  • Demonstrated negative reinforcement when rats stopped pressing a lever to avoid shocks
  • Proved animals can learn new associations
• What are the strengths and limitations of behaviourism?


  Strengths:

  • Scientific credibility with objective methods
  • Useful principles for behaviour modification

  
  

  Limitations:

  • Suggests humans are mechanical responders
  • Ethical issues with animal experiments
  • Generalizes findings from rats to humans, ignoring cognition