Behaviourist approach

• The behaviourist approach assumes:

  Psychologists should only study observable, quantifiable behaviour.

  All behaviour is learned

  Humans are no different from animals and should not be regarded as more complex

  Research on animals is relevant to humans
• Pavlov developed the theory of classical conditioning.
• Pavlov was one of the first behaviourists to explore the relationship between learning and behaviour
• Classical conditioning is a type of learning in which an existing involuntary reflex is associated with a new stimulus
• Pavlov tested his theory using dogs, who were conditioned to associate the sound of a bell ( neutral stimulus ) with food ( unconditioned stimulus ). This resulted in the dogs producing a salivation response ( conditioned response ) with the sound of a bell ( conditioned stimulus ) even when there was no food present
• Pavlov demonstrated that repeated exposure to an event leads to a learned and uncontrollable behaviour. This process can be used to explain the acquisition of phobias and the development of attachment
• Operant conditioning uses ideas from Pavlov's classical conditioning
• Skinner suggested that behaviour is the result of learning through consequences of out actions, and tested the operant conditioning theory using rats
• Skinner found three types of reinforcement that affect behaviour:

  Positive reinforcement

  Negative reinforcement

  Punishment
• Operant conditioning Positive reinforcement - when a behaviour is followed by a desirable consequence ( reward ) and is more likely to be repeated
• Operant conditioning negative reinforcement - when a behaviour is followed by the removal of an adverse consequence and is more likely to be repeated
• Operant conditioning punishment - when a behaviour is followed by an unpleasant consequence and is less likely to be repeated
• Skinner used the Skinner box to examine operant conditioning in rats and pigeons.
• The animal in the Skinner box would press a lever by accident, and it would be rewarded with a food pellet. The animal would learn though positive reinforcement that if it pressed the lever, it would be rewarded with food. It then learnt a new voluntary behaviour that should be repeated in order to receive the reward again.
• Behaviourist approach AO3. Behaviourists have contributed to the recognition of psychology of a science. The experimental methods of Pavlov and Skinner rejected the earlier emphasis in psychology on introspection. Behaviourists believe that emphasis on the scientific method has lead to more reliable understanding of human behaviour. These methods have helped psychology gain credibility as a science. This shows that the behaviourist approach was beneficial to psychology as a whole.
• Behaviourist approach AO3. The behaviourists were influential in encouraging the use of animals as research subjects. They believed that learning processes for both humans and animals are similar. Using non human animals in research gives experimenters more control over the process, without demand characteristics or individual differences. However, animals in studies can be considered unethical as there is less protection from harm. Also, some argue that animals are not comparable to humans.
• Behaviourist approach AO3. The behaviourist approach has made important contributions to our modern understanding of human mental illness. For example, many phobias are thought to be the result of earlier unpleasant learning experiences. This has helped psychologists develop therapies such as systematic desensitisation, which attempts to recondition a fear response. Also, addictions can be better understood through operant conditioning. This demonstrates that the behaviourist approach has many real world applications.
• Behaviourist approach AO3. The behaviourist approach has been criticised for its limited view regarding the origins of behaviour. Behaviourists ignore alternate levels of explanation including the role of cognition and emotional factors in influencing behaviour. However, Skinner countered this argument stating that for behaviour to be investigated scientifically, it had to be directly measurable and observable.