Behaviourism

• What do behaviorists conduct experiments on to obtain reliable results?

  Stimulus and response mechanisms
• What are the two types of conditioning discussed in behaviorism?

  Pavlovian classical conditioning and Skinnerian operant conditioning
• How do behaviorists believe behavior is learned?

  Through experiences and interactions with the environment
• What is the difference between behavior being learned and being innate according to behaviorists?

  Behavior is learned through experience, not innate
• What do behaviorists focus on to be considered a scientific discipline?

  Objectively measurable behaviors
• What is a stimulus in the context of behaviorism?

  An event that elicits a response
• What is the role of the environment in behavior according to behaviorists?

  It determines and predicts behavior
• Who developed the theory of classical conditioning?

  Ivan Pavlov
• What did Pavlov observe in his dogs that led to classical conditioning?

  Dogs salivated before seeing food
• What is an unconditioned response in classical conditioning?

  Drooling to food
• What becomes a conditioned stimulus in Pavlov's experiment?

  The sound of a metronome
• How can classical conditioning explain the development of a phobia?

  Through association of a neutral stimulus with fear
• Who is known for developing operant conditioning?

  BF Skinner
• What is operant conditioning based on?

  Learning from the consequences of actions
• What is positive reinforcement in operant conditioning?

  Adding a pleasant stimulus to increase behavior
• What is negative reinforcement in operant conditioning?

  Removing an unpleasant stimulus to increase behavior
• How did Skinner demonstrate negative reinforcement?

  By using electric shocks in Skinner boxes
• What is punishment in the context of operant conditioning?

  Reduction of behavior through consequences
• What is positive punishment?

  Addition of an unpleasant stimulus
• What is negative punishment?

  Removal of a pleasant stimulus
• How can parents use reinforcement to change a child's behavior?

  • Positive reinforcement: Praise for tidying room
  • Negative reinforcement: Stop complaints for tidying
  • Positive punishment: Dishwashing for swearing
  • Negative punishment: Taking away mobile phone for swearing
• What is extinction in operant conditioning?

  Stopping behavior when consequences cease
• What is behavior shaping in operant conditioning?

  Rewarding increasingly complex behaviors
• What is the main difference between classical and operant conditioning?

  Classical is involuntary; operant is voluntary
• How does classical conditioning explain phobias?

  By associating a phobic object with fear
• What are the strengths of the behaviorist approach?

  • Objective observation of behavior
  • Cause and effect relationships
  • Replicable methods
  • Real-life applications in therapy
• What are the weaknesses of the behaviorist approach?

  • Generalization issues to humans
  • Overly reductionist perspective
  • Ethical concerns in controlling behavior
  • Ignoring other explanations for behavior
• What are some real-life applications of behaviorism?

  Counter conditioning, token economies, classroom management
• How can behaviorism be seen as manipulative?

  By controlling human behavior through conditioning
• What is a criticism of behaviorism regarding human behavior complexity?

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

  Social learning, unconscious mind, biology