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 three features of the Psych Boost app?

  • Flashcards
  • Multiple choice quizzes
  • Key term tester
• 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 from 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
• What happens to a neutral stimulus in classical conditioning?

  It becomes a conditioned stimulus after being paired with an unconditioned stimulus
• How can 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 actions
• Who is known for the development of operant conditioning?

  BF Skinner
• 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 to decrease a behavior
• How can parents use reinforcement and punishment to manage a child's behavior?

  • Positive reinforcement: Praise for tidying their room
  • Negative reinforcement: Removing complaints about mess
  • Positive punishment: Adding chores for swearing
  • Negative punishment: Taking away privileges for swearing
• What is extinction in operant conditioning?

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

  A process of rewarding simple behaviors and then more complex behaviors
• What is the main difference between classical and operant conditioning?

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

  It explains how a phobia is formed through association with a fear-inducing stimulus
• What are the strengths of the behaviorist approach?

  • Focus on scientific methods
  • Objective observation of behavior
  • Ability to demonstrate cause and effect relationships
  • Standardized procedures for replication
• Why do behaviorists primarily use animal participants in their research?

  Because they can fully control the environment and conduct experiments not possible with humans
• What is a limitation 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
  • Systematic desensitization and flooding
  • Token economies in prisons and mental health institutions
  • Classroom management techniques
• What are some ethical concerns regarding behaviorism?

  It can be seen as manipulative and may lead to harmful compulsive behavior
• What is a criticism of behaviorism regarding its reductionist approach?

  It oversimplifies complex human behaviors into stimulus-response links
• What alternative explanations for behavior does behaviorism ignore?

  Social learning, the unconscious mind, and the role of biology
• What are the weaknesses of the behaviorist approach?

  • Overly reductionist
  • Ethical concerns in controlling behavior
  • Limited understanding of complex human behaviors
  • Ignores other explanations like social learning and biology
• How many hours of exclusive exam tutorial videos does the Psych Boost app offer?

  Over 17 hours
• What can patrons access through the Psych Boost app?

  Hundreds of digital and printable resources
• What is the purpose of the Psych Boost app?

  To help students prepare for exams