Learning Approaches - the Behaviourist Approach

• Who are often considered the first truly scientific psychologists?

  The behaviorists
• Why do behaviorists focus on observable phenomena?

  Because they can only study what can be observed objectively
• What do behavior psychologists conduct experiments on?

  Stimulus and response mechanisms
• What significant sacrifice did behaviorists make in their research?

  They gave up studying internal mental processes
• How do behaviorists view the brain?

  As a black box
• What are the two main types of conditioning discussed in the behaviorist approach?

  Pavlovian classical conditioning and Skinnerian operant conditioning
• What do behaviorists believe about the origin of behavior?

  It originates through interaction with the environment
• What do behaviorists believe should be the focus of psychology?

  Objectively measurable behaviors
• What is a stimulus in the context of behaviorism?

  A stimulus is something applied to a subject that elicits a response
• How do behaviorists view mental processes?

  As not directly observable and not measurable objectively
• What is classical conditioning?

  Learning by association between an unconditioned stimulus and a neutral stimulus
• Who developed the theory of classical conditioning?

  Ivan Pavlov
• What is an unconditioned response?

  A natural reaction to an unconditioned stimulus
• How does a neutral stimulus become a conditioned stimulus in classical conditioning?

  By being paired with an unconditioned stimulus
• How can classical conditioning explain the development of a phobia?

  By associating a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus that causes fear
• What is operant conditioning?

  Learning through the consequences of voluntary actions
• What is positive reinforcement?

  The addition of a pleasant stimulus to increase a behavior
• What is negative reinforcement?

  The removal of an unpleasant stimulus to increase a behavior
• What is punishment in the context of operant conditioning?

  The reduction of behavior through consequences
• What is positive punishment?

  The addition of an unpleasant stimulus when the target behavior occurs
• What is negative punishment?

  The removal of a pleasant stimulus when the target behavior occurs
• How can parents use reinforcement and punishment to manage a child's behavior?

  • Positive reinforcement: Praise for tidying their room
  • Negative reinforcement: Removal of complaints for a tidy room
  • Positive punishment: Washing dishes for swearing
  • Negative punishment: Losing mobile phone for swearing
• What is extinction in operant conditioning?

  The process where behavior stops when consequences cease
• How can behavior shaping be used in operant conditioning?

  By rewarding simple behaviors and gradually increasing complexity
• What is the difference between classical and operant conditioning?

  Classical conditioning involves involuntary responses, while operant conditioning involves voluntary behaviors
• How does classical conditioning explain the acquisition of phobias?

  By associating a phobic object with a stimulus that naturally causes fear
• What are the strengths of the behaviorist approach?

  • Focus on objective observation
  • Systematic manipulation of variables
  • Demonstrates cause and effect relationships
  • Highly standardized procedures for replication
• What are the limitations of the behaviorist approach?

  • Generalization issues to human behavior
  • Overly reductionist view of behavior
  • Ignores other explanations like social learning and biology
  • Ethical concerns in controlling human behavior
• What are some real-life applications of behaviorism?

  Counter conditioning treatments, token economies, and classroom management
• How can conditioning techniques be seen as manipulative?

  They can control human behavior in ways that may be harmful
• What is an example of a harmful application of conditioning techniques?

  Social media's use of likes to increase app usage
• What is a criticism of behaviorism regarding human behavior complexity?

  It oversimplifies behavior to stimulus-response links
• What alternative explanations for behavior does behaviorism ignore?

  Social learning, the unconscious mind, and biological influences
• What is the impact of behaviorism on the status of psychology as a scientific field?

  • Raised the status of psychology
  • Led to its acceptance as a distinct scientific discipline
  • Emphasized the importance of empirical research
• What is the main focus of behaviorist research?

  Objectively observable behavior