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 is the relationship between stimulus and response in behaviorism?

  A stimulus leads to a response from the creature
• What is a significant limitation of the behaviorist approach?

  It ignores internal mental processes
• What are the three features of the Psych Boost app?

  Flashcards, multiple choice quizzes, and key term tester
• What are the defining features of the behaviorist approach?

  • Focus on observable behavior
  • Study of stimulus-response mechanisms
  • Belief that behavior is learned through interaction with the environment
• What is classical conditioning also known as?

  Learning by association
• Who developed the theory of classical conditioning?

  Ivan Pavlov
• How does classical conditioning explain the development of a phobia of bees?

  A bee becomes a conditioned stimulus after being paired with the pain of a sting
• What is operant conditioning?

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

  The addition of a pleasant stimulus to increase behavior
• How did Skinner demonstrate operant conditioning with rats?

  By using a Skinner box where rats learned to press a lever for food
• What is the difference between positive and negative punishment?

  Positive punishment adds an unpleasant stimulus, while negative punishment removes a pleasant stimulus
• What is extinction in the context of operant conditioning?

  It is the process where behavior stops when consequences cease
• What is behavior shaping?

  A process of rewarding simple behaviors and then more complex behaviors
• What are the key differences between classical and operant conditioning?

  • Classical conditioning involves involuntary responses; operant conditioning involves voluntary behaviors.
  • Classical conditioning explains how responses are acquired; operant conditioning explains how responses are maintained.
• How does avoidance of a phobia relate to negative reinforcement?

  Avoiding the phobia decreases anxiety, reinforcing the avoidance behavior
• What are the strengths of the behaviorist approach?

  • Focus on objective observation
  • Ability to demonstrate cause and effect relationships
  • High replicability of research methods
• Why do behaviorists primarily use animal participants in their research?

  To fully control the environment and conduct experiments not possible with humans
• What is a major criticism of generalizing behaviorist findings to humans?

  Humans have more complex social lives and cultural influences
• What are some real-life applications of behaviorism?

  • Counter conditioning treatments
  • Token economies in prisons
  • Classroom management techniques
• What ethical concerns arise from using behaviorism to control human behavior?

  It can be seen as manipulative
• How can behaviorism be criticized for being reductionist?

  It oversimplifies behavior to stimulus-response links, ignoring other explanations
• What are some alternative explanations for behavior that behaviorism ignores?

  Social learning, the unconscious mind, and biological factors
• What are the limitations of the behaviorist approach?

  • Overly reductionist
  • Ethical concerns in controlling behavior
  • Limited generalizability to human behavior