Behaviourist approach

• What do behaviorists argue?


  That it is only possible to scientifically investigate what can be directly observed and measured, therefore behaviour can only be observed through stimulus and response and the mind cannot be studied
• How do behaviourists believe that behaviour is learned?


  Through experience with the environment therefore they believe it can be predicted and controlled by manipulating the environment
• What happens in Pavlovs theory of classical conditioning?


  -An unconditioned response is produced from a neutral stimulus repeatedly paired with an unconditioned stimulus

  -The creature associates the neutral stimulus with the unconditioned stimulus

  -The neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus where it alone produces a conditioned response
• What happens during Skinners theory of Operant conditioning?


  -When a creature performs voluntary responses it learns from the consequences of those responses

  -Reinforcing consequences encourage a behaviour therefore it is produced more often

  -Punishing consequences discourage a behaviour therefore it is performed less
• Pavlovs experiment description?


  -Pavlov began by presenting the dogs with food which made them salivate (US) and (UR)

  -He then introduced the sound of a metronome (NS) which he repeatedly paired with the food

  -The dogs would associate the food with the sound of the metronome turning the sound of the metronome into a (CS)

  -The dogs would start salivating only to the sound of the metronome (CR)
• Skinners experiment description?


  -A hungry rat was placed into a 'Skinner box' where there was a level that it could press

  -The rat would eventually press the lever purposefully or on accident and food would be dispensed into the box (Positive reinforcement) encouraging the rat to press the lever more often

  -Then when the rat pressed the lever skinner would add a mild shock discouraging the rat from pressing the lever (Positive punishment)

  -Skinner would stop dispensing food pellets when the rat pressed the lever and the rat would eventually stop pressing the lever (extinction)
• What are the differences between Classical conditioning and Operant conditioning?


  Classical: involuntary responses and acquisition of responses

  Operant: Voluntary responses and maintenance of responses
• Strengths of the behaviorist approach?


  -Studies objectively observable and measurable stimulus-response mechanisms, establishing cause and effect relationships

  -Many real world applications such as counter-conditioning treatments and token economy systems in prisons
• Limitations of the behaviourist approach?

  -Use of animal subjects in Pavlov's and Skinner's experiments may mean that results aren't generalisable to human behaviour

  -Trying to explain behaviour with simple stimulus-response links is overly reductionist