3: Behaviourist approach

• Conformity


  A change in a persons behaviour or opinions as a result of real or imagined pressure from a person or group of people.
• Punishment


  A stimulus that weakens behaviour because it is unpleasant and we try to avoid it.
• Variable Ratio Reinforcement Schedule

  When a reward is delivered at unpredictable intervals.
• Operant Conditioning


  Learning that takes place because of the consequences of behaviour.

  This type of learning was investigated by Thorndike.
• Classical Conditioning


  Learning that involves reflexes.
• Negative Reinforcement


  When an unpleasant experience is removed after a behaviour has been made.

  This increases the likelihood of that behaviour being repeated.
• Positive Reinforcement


  A reward or pleasant consequence that increases the likelihood that a behaviour or action will be repeated.
• Discrimination


  The ability to perceive and respond to differences among stimuli.
• Spontaneous Recovery


  When a behaviour that is believed to be extinct unexpectedly and quickly returns after a period of rest or lessened response.
• Generalisation


  The tendency to respond in the same way to a different but similar stimuli.
• Extinction


  The gradual weakening of a conditional response that results in the behaviour decreasing or disappearing.
• Assumptions of the Behavioural Approach

  - We are born with a tabula rasa - the brain is a blank state

  - All behaviour is learned via classical and operant conditioning

  - The lab experiment is the only objective way of measuring behaviour
• Punishment


  A stimulus that weakens behaviour because it is unpleasant and we try to avoid it
• Behaviours that are punished are...

  Stamped out
• Ethical implications


  Moral implications

  Cruelty

  Eg. Little Albert, skinner
• Double blind procedure


  Both P and E are niave

  Cannot influence behaviour of P in direction of outcome

  E is also unaware of study
• Single-blind procedure


  Participants are niave

  Unaware of study aims

  Stops demand characteristics
• Skinners study (rat box)

  -introduced idea of reinforcement of law of effect

  -behaviour learnt from consequences

  -trial and error(receiving food)

  -food=reward

  -rat pressed lever faster each time
• Tabula rasa means...


  Blank slate
• All behaviour is learnt via

  Classical and operant conditioning
• Behaviours followed by rewards are

  Stamped in
• Pavlov's study on classical conditioning

  -measured dogs output of salvia

  -served dogs food/ played metronome

  -removed food/played metronome

  -dogs still salivated

  -food=ucs

  -metronome=ucr