Behavioral approach

• What is the primary focus of behaviorists in psychology?

  Studying behavior that can be observed and measured
• Why did Watson reject introspection in behaviorism?

  Because it involved vague and difficult-to-measure concepts
• How do behaviorists view a baby's mind?

  As a 'blank slate'
• What do behaviorists believe about the processes that govern learning?

  They are the same in all species
• What are the two forms of learning identified by behaviorists?

  Classical conditioning and operant conditioning
• What is classical conditioning according to Pavlov's research?

  • Learning through association
  • Example: Dogs learn to associate a bell (stimulus) with food (stimulus)
  • Results in a conditioned response (salivation)
• What did Pavlov use to condition dogs in his experiment?

  A bell
• What is the outcome of Pavlov's classical conditioning experiment?

  A neutral stimulus can elicit a new learned response
• What is operant conditioning according to Skinner's research?

  • Learning through reinforcement
  • Behavior is shaped by consequences
  • Involves positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, and punishment
• What is positive reinforcement?

  Receiving a reward for a certain behavior
• What is negative reinforcement?

  Removal of an unpleasant consequence
• What is punishment in the context of operant conditioning?

  An unpleasant consequence of behavior
• How do positive and negative reinforcements affect behavior?

  They increase the likelihood that behavior will be repeated
• What effect does punishment have on behavior?

  It decreases the likelihood that behavior will be repeated
• What is the Skinner box used for in operant conditioning research?

  • Contains a lever that releases food
  • Rats learn to press the lever for rewards (positive reinforcement)
  • Rats learn to avoid electric shocks (negative reinforcement)
• What are the strengths of the behaviorist approach?

  • Real-world application
  • Applied to real-world behaviors and problems
  • Example: Treatment of phobias through classical conditioning
• What are the limitations of the behaviorist approach?

  • Environmental determinism: ignores free will
  • Ethical/practical issues: stress on animals in studies
  • Limited generalizability to humans