Pavlov

• What are the key points of the behaviourist approach?

  • Behaviour should be observable and measurable
  • Animal behaviour is comparable to human behaviour
  • All behaviour is learnt form the environment
• Behaviour is learnt through classical conditioning or operant conditioning
• Classical conditioning is learning through association - only applies to voluntary responses
• Before conditioning 


  Neutral stimulus provides no response

  Unconditioned stimulus provides unconditioned response
• During conditioning 


  Neutral stimulus plus the unconditioned stimulus provides an unconditioned response
• After conditioning 


  Conditioned stimulus provides a conditioned response
• Key concepts of classical conditioning 


  • Generalisation
  • Extinction
  • Spontaneous recovery
  • Discrimination
• Generalisation


  Conditioned stimulus could be generalised to other sounds with the volume or the tone changing and still producing a response
• Discrimination


  If sound becomes too different that no salivation occurs
• Extinction 


  If conditioned stimulus continues being presented with no unconditioned stimulus then association becomes extinct
• Spontaneous recovery


  Sudden display of behaviour thought to become extinct