behaviourist approach

• What is the key term associated with learning through association in the behaviourist approach?

  Classical Conditioning
• Who is associated with the concept of Operant Conditioning?

  Skinner
• What does the term 'tabula rasa' mean in the context of Behaviourism?

  It means we are born as a blank slate shaped by our environment.
• What is the main focus of the behaviourist approach?

  It attempts to explain behaviour in terms of learning.
• What is a Stimulus-Response (S-R) explanation?

  It refers to observable stimuli & response & ignores everything else
• What type of experiments do behaviourists prefer for research?

  Lab experiments
• Why do behaviourists use animals in their research?

  Because it is more convenient and allows easier replication.
• What is the purpose of controlling extraneous variables in behaviourist research?

  To avoid inaccurate conclusions from the research.
• What is the unconditioned stimulus (UCS) in Pavlov's experiment?


  Food
• What does the neutral stimulus (NS) become after conditioning in classical conditioning?

  Conditioned Stimulus (CS)
• What is the conditioned response (CR) in Pavlov's experiment?

  Salivation
• How can food poisoning lead to a phobia of a specific food?

  Through classical conditioning, where the food becomes associated with feeling awful.
• What are the steps in the classical conditioning process?

  1. Before Conditioning: NS = Bell, UCS = Food, UCR = Salivation
  2. During Conditioning: NS & UCS paired together
  3. After Conditioning: CS = Bell, CR = Salivation
• What is the main principle of operant conditioning?

  Learning through consequences
• What is positive reinforcement?

  add/give something to make the behaviour more likely
• What is negative reinforcement?

  Something unpleasant stops, to make the behaviour more likely
• What is punishment in the context of operant conditioning?

  Adding something negative to decrease the likelihood of a behaviour.
• What is a primary reinforcer?

  • Primary Reinforcer: Immediate - (occur naturally, motivated behaviour without prior learning), evolutionary basis EG food, shelter, water
• How does Skinner's Box demonstrate positive reinforcement?

  The rat receives food for pressing the lever, increasing the likelihood of that behaviour.
• What is the significance of scientific credibility in behaviourism?

  It emphasizes measurable, observable behaviour in controlled settings.
• What are the real-life applications of the behaviourist approach?

  • Token economy systems in institutions.
  • Treatment of phobias through systematic desensitization.
  • Understanding gambling behaviour through operant conditioning.
• What is one strength of behaviourism regarding its research methods?

  It allows for control over variables, minimizing external factors.
• How does behaviourism contribute to psychology as a scientific discipline?

  By providing objective and measurable data through controlled experiments.
• What effect does a large win or winning streak have on gamblers' behavior?

  It increases the likelihood that the behavior will be repeated.
• What did Aasvad (2013) find about gamblers and their early experiences?

  They continue to gamble to repeat these early experiences.
• According to Griffiths (2009), why may some types of gambling become addictive?

  Because they provide financial, physiological, psychological, and social rewards.
• What are the types of rewards associated with gambling according to Griffiths (2009)?

  • Financial rewards
  • Physiological rewards (adrenaline and dopamine buzz of winning)
  • Psychological rewards (excitement)
  • Social rewards (praise from peers)
• What is one strength of behaviorism in psychology?

  It brought scientific methods into psychology by focusing on measurable behavior.
• How did behaviorism emphasize scientific processes?

  By focusing on objectivity and replication in research.
• What is a consequence of behaviorism's objective research data?

  It has been influential in the development of psychology as a scientific discipline.
• What is one strength of Pavlov and Skinner's work with animals?

  Researchers have more control over the process and reduce individual differences.
• What type of experiments did Pavlov use in his research?

  Objective, controlled experiments in a laboratory.
• What is a criticism of laboratory studies with animals?

  They may expose animals to stressful and aversive conditions.
• Why might the results of Pavlov's and Skinner's research be considered invalid?

  The stress of being in a lab could have affected how the animals reacted.
• Why is it inappropriate to generalize findings from animal behavior to humans?

  Humans have much more complex cognitive processes than animals.
• What are the key criticisms of behaviorism regarding free will and determinism?

  • Strong determinism: all behavior is learned from the environment.
  • Ignores the influence of free will on behavior.
• How does behaviorism fit into the nature vs. nurture debate?

  • Behaviorism is on the nurture side.
  • It argues that behavior is learned from the environment.
• What type of approach is behaviorism considered in terms of idiographic vs. nomothetic?

  It is a nomothetic approach.
• What scientific methods did the behaviorist approach introduce to psychology?

  Laboratory experiments with high control of extraneous variables.
• What is a benefit of the objective data obtained from behaviorist research?

  It gives psychology more credibility.