AO1

• What is the Behaviourist Approach?


  A way of explaining behaviour in terms of learning/observable behaviour
• What are the assumptions of the Behaviourist Approach?

  • Rejects introspection
  • The basic processes that govern learning are the same in all species
  • Two forms of learning: Classical & Operant Conditioning
  • Baby’s are ‘blank slates’ that are written on by experience
• Describe the process of Classical Conditioning

  • Food (unconditioned stimulus) causes dog salivation (unconditioned response)
  • Bell (neutral stimulus) produces no response
  • Bell + food causes salivation
  • Bell (conditioned stimulus) causes salivation (conditioned response)
  • Learning through association
• What is Operant Conditioning? (Skinner)

  • When behaviour is shaped by the consequences
  • Positive/negative reinforcement and punishment
• What are Skinner's 4 types of consequences of behaviour?

  • Positive reinforcement (+): Receiving a reward when a behaviour is performed
  • Positive punishment (+): Adding an unpleasant stimulus as a consequence of behaviour
  • Negative reinforcement (-): Occurs when an unpleasant stimulus is removed
  • Negative punishment (-): Taking something good or desirable away to reduce the occurrence of a particular behaviour
• Describe Skinner's experiment into operant conditioning

  • Rat in a box
  • When rat activated lever=food pellet dropped into box
  • Rat would continue to press lever
  • Food pellets stop=no longer press lever (extinction)