The Behaviourist Approach

• Who are often considered the first scientific psychologists?

  Behaviorists
• Why do behaviorists focus on observable actions?

  To maintain objectivity in their studies
• What do behaviorists conduct experiments on?

  Stimulus and response mechanisms
• What is a major sacrifice made by behaviorists?

  They ignore internal mental processes
• What is the behaviorist view of the mind?

  The mind is 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?

  Pavlovian classical conditioning and Skinnerian operant conditioning
• How do behaviorists view the origin of behavior?

  Through interaction with the environment
• What do behaviorists believe about behavior learning?

  It is learned through experiences
• What is the focus of behaviorist psychology?

  Objectively measurable behaviors
• What is a stimulus in behaviorism?

  An event that elicits a response
• What is the result of applying a stimulus to a subject?

  The resulting behavior is observed
• What does classical conditioning involve?

  Learning by association
• Who developed the theory of classical conditioning?

  Ivan Pavlov
• What is an unconditioned response?

  A natural reaction to a stimulus
• How does a neutral stimulus become a conditioned stimulus?

  By being paired with an unconditioned stimulus
• How can classical conditioning explain phobias?

  By associating a neutral stimulus with fear
• What is operant conditioning?

  Learning from the consequences of actions
• Who is known for operant conditioning?

  BF Skinner
• What happens when a behavior is positively reinforced?

  The behavior is likely to be repeated
• What is the purpose of a Skinner box?

  To demonstrate operant conditioning
• What is positive reinforcement?

  Addition of a pleasant stimulus
• What is negative reinforcement?

  Removal of an unpleasant stimulus
• How can punishment reduce behavior?

  By introducing an unpleasant consequence
• What is extinction in operant conditioning?

  Stopping the reinforcement of a behavior
• What is behavior shaping?

  Rewarding complex behaviors gradually
• How do classical and operant conditioning differ?

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

  By associating fear with a neutral object
• What is a criticism of behaviorism?

  It is overly reductionist in explanations
• What is a real-life application of behaviorism?

  Counter conditioning treatments
• What ethical concerns arise from behaviorism?

  It can be seen as manipulative
• How can behaviorism be applied in classrooms?

  For classroom management techniques
• What is a potential negative outcome of conditioning techniques?

  They can lead to compulsive behaviors
• What is the role of reinforcement in behaviorism?

  To increase the likelihood of a behavior
• What does behaviorism ignore in its explanations?

  Other explanations like social learning
• How can social media use behaviorism principles?

  By using likes to increase engagement
• What is a limitation of using animal studies in behaviorism?

  Generalization to human behavior is problematic
• What is the focus of behaviorist research?

  Objectively observable phenomena
• What are the key differences between classical and operant conditioning?

  • Classical conditioning: Involuntary responses, learning by association
  • Operant conditioning: Voluntary responses, learning from consequences
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of the behaviorist approach?

  Strengths:

  • Scientific and objective
  • Effective real-life applications

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Overly reductionist
  • Ethical concerns in manipulation