AO1

• Who founded the behaviourist approach in the 1910s and 1920s?

  John Watson and B.F. Skinner
• What are the two main processes that make up the behaviourist approach?

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


  It is learning via association.
• What occurs in classical conditioning?

  A neutral stimulus becomes associated with an unconditioned stimulus, producing an unconditioned response.
• What is the outcome of classical conditioning?

  The learned behaviour is the conditioned response.
• What is positive reinforcement?

  Positive reinforcement occurs when the behavior performed results in a pleasant consequence
• What is negative reinforcement?


  Negative reinforcement occurs when the behavior performed allows you to avoid something unpleasant
• What is the case study of Little Albert about?

  • Demonstrates classical conditioning
  • Initially, Albert had a neutral response to the white rat
  • The unconditioned stimulus (noise) caused an unconditioned response (crying)
  • After conditioning, the white rat became a conditioned stimulus causing a conditioned response (crying)
• What was Albert's response to the white rat before conditioning?

  He had a neutral response and did not react
• What was the unconditioned stimulus in the Little Albert case study?


  The noise from hitting two bars together
• What was the unconditioned response when Albert heard the noise?


  Albert began to cry
• What was the conditioned stimulus after conditioning in the Little Albert case study?

  The white rat
• What was the conditioned response when Albert was presented with the white rat after conditioning?

  He cried out of fear
• How did the behavior of Albert change from before to after conditioning?

  Before conditioning, he did not react to the rat; after conditioning, he cried out of fear
• What is the name of the key study conducted by Skinner?

  Skinner's box
• What method did Skinner use to train the mouse?

  Positive reinforcement
• What happens when the lever in Skinner's box is pressed?

  It releases sugar pellets into the tray
• What are the four stages in training the mouse to press the lever?

  1. The box is divided in half; mouse receives a sugar pellet for entering that half.
  2. The box is divided into quarters; mouse receives a sugar pellet for entering that quarter.
  3. The mouse must touch the lever with any part of its body to receive a sugar pellet.
  4. The mouse must use its paw to press the lever down to receive a sugar pellet.
• What occurs in Stage 1 of training the mouse?

  The mouse receives a sugar pellet when it enters the half containing the lever.
• What is the goal of Stage 1 in training the mouse?

  To teach the mouse to intentionally enter the half of the box with the lever.
• What happens in Stage 2 of the training process?

  The box is divided into quarters, and the mouse receives a sugar pellet for entering that quarter.
• What is the purpose of Stage 3 in the training process?


  The mouse must touch the lever with any part of its body to receive a sugar pellet.
• What is the final stage of training the mouse?

  The mouse must use its paw to press the lever down to receive a sugar pellet.
• What does the mouse learn to do by the end of the training process?

  The mouse learns to intentionally press the lever when it wants a sugar pellet.
• How is the mouse positively reinforced in this experiment?

  By receiving sugar pellets when it performs the desired behavior.
• How does the training process in Skinner's box demonstrate the principles of operant conditioning?


  It shows how behavior can be shaped through reinforcement.
• How does positive punishment decrease behavior?

  By adding something unpleasant
• How does negative punishment decrease behavior?

  By taking away something pleasant
• What is classical conditioning?

  Learning by association
• Who investigated classical conditioning using dogs?

  Pavlov
• In classical conditioning, what is the unconditioned stimulus?

  Food
• What is the unconditioned response in classical conditioning?

  Salivation
• What does the neutral stimulus become in classical conditioning?

  The conditioned stimulus
• What is the conditioned response in classical conditioning?


  Salivation when the tuning fork is presented
• How can behavior be increased according to Skinner?

  Using positive reinforcements and negative reinforcement
• How can behavior be decreased according to Skinner?

  By using positive punishment and negative punishment
• What experiment did Skinner conduct to demonstrate positive reinforcement?

  Training a mouse to press a lever for sugar pellets
• What is vicarious reinforcement?

  Learning from observing the rewards and punishments of others
• How does social learning theory differ from classical conditioning?

  It emphasizes cognitive processes rather than direct stimulus-response relationships
• What happens to behaviors that are reinforced sufficiently?

  They become internalized and part of the learner's identity