Behaviourist

• definition

  Focuses on observable behaviours and how they are learnt through the environment. They believe that all behaviours are learnt through conditioning.
• Skinner

  Operant conditioning = behaviours that are learnt through consequences.

  punishment= unpleasant consequence

  -postitve Reinforcement= something introduced in order to increase a behaviour (rewarded when complies)

  -negative Reinforcement= something introduced to decrease a behaviour. When complies a unpleasant stimulus is removed
• Pavlov

  classical conditioning involves associating response with a stimulus. 1) (UCS)food -> (UCR) dog salivating

  2) (NS)bell -> (UCR) no reaction from dog

  3) (NS) bell + (UCS) food-> (UCR) dog salivating

  4) (CS) bell -> (CR) dog salivating
• pavlov

  -extinction= (CR) diminishes if (CS) is presented repeatedly without (UCS)

  -spontaneous recovery= After extinction (CR) may temporarily reappear with (CS)

  -Generalisation= similar stimulus to (CS) also triggers (CR).

  -Discrimination= differentiation between (CS) and similar stimuli.
• Watson and Raynor

  Little albert- 18 month old conditioned using similar technique to pavlov.

  1) no initial fear

  2) next time he's exposed to a rat Watson hit a pipe and scared the child

  3) after repeating this he became scared of the rat and cried

  This generalised to other white, furry animals such as rabbits.
• classical conditioning

  -involuntary

  -development for response

  -association learnt between two stimuli

  -stimulus before behaviour
• operant conditioning

  -voluntary

  -responses reinforced

  -maintenance needed for response to continue

  -association between response and consequence

  -behaviour before consequence
• BOTH

  -learning by association

  -both focus on observable behaviour

  -both use scientific methods such as lab experiments

  -both accept the use of animals for research
• strengths

  1. practical applications- helped develop treatments in mental health and behaviour in schools
  2. scientific methods helped raise status of psychology as a science
• weaknesses

  1. ethical concerns with the use of animals and young children
  2. reductionist- ignores influence of mental processes(Cognitive)
  3. environmental determinism- goes against free will
• conclusion

  The approach made significant contributions to our understanding of learning and behaviour. It has limitations but it's focus on observable behaviour and scientific methods used have shaped the field of psychology.