BEHAVIOURIST APPROACH

• Assumptions


  • Studies behaviour that can be observed and measured
  • We are born as a 'blank slate', everything we do is a sum of our reinforcement history
  • Ignores mental processes of the mind
  • Watson rejected introspection due to vague concepts
  • Relies on lab experiments to maintain control and objectivity
  • Basic processes that govern learning are the same in all species (allowing animal studies)
• Two forms of learning

  Classical conditioning

  Operant conditioning
• Classical conditioning 


  Learning by association. Occurs when two stimuli are repeatedly paired together (UCS and NS) for the NS eventually produce the same response first produced by the UCS
• Pavlov's research


  • UCS (food) produced UCR (salivating)
  • NS (bell) rung to produce no response
  • Bell is paired with presence of food (NS+UCS) to produce the UCR of salivation
  • Bell is now a CS producing CR (salivating) from dog
  • Dog learns through association
  • Associates the sound of the bell with the presence of the food which conditions the salivating response
• BF Skinner's research


  • Operant conditioning, learning through consequence
  • Every time rat activated a lever inside skinner's box, rewarded with a food pellet (PR)
  • Alternatively, rat could be conditioned to perform same behaviour to avoid (NR) a punishment (electric shocks)
• Operant conditioning 


  A form of learning where behaviour is shaped and maintained by its consequences. Consequences include positive reinforcement, negative and punishment
• 3 types of consequences

  Positive reinforcement- receiving a reward for behaviour. Increases likelihood

  Negative reinforcement- when an animal/human avoids an unpleasant consequence. Increases likelihood

  Punishment- an unpleasant consequence of behaviour. Decreases the likelihood behaviour will be repeated
• (AO3) In terms of scientific credibility, what is credible about BA?

  • It was able to bring the language and methods of the natural sciences into psychology.
  • Focused in the measurement of observable behaviour within highly controlled lab setting.
  • Emphasised the importance of scientific processes (objectivity, replication) influential in the development of psychology as a scientific discipline
• (AO3) How has the BA benefitted real life in terms of application?

  • Operant conditioning is the basis of token economy systems used in institutions like prisons/psychiatric wards, helping teach sufferers the rewards of positive behaviour through privileges
  • Classical conditioning has helped in the treatment of phobias, helping sufferers to disassociate a stimulus from their conditioned response, less effort is needed from the patient, eventually improving their QOL
• (AO3) Machine reductionism


  • Animals and humans are seen as passive and machine-like
  • Suggests we have little to no conscious insight into behaviour
  • This may be incorrect as their are important cognitive processes that mediate between stimulus and response, making us more active in the role of learning
  • Learning theory therefore may apply less to human than animal behaviour
• (AO3) Issues with environmental determinism

  • BA sees all behaviour as determined by past experiences that have been a result of conditioning
  • This ignores any possible influence of free will on behaviour and suggests our past conditioning history has already determined our outcome