5.2.1 The Behaviourist Approach

• What does the behaviourist approach focus on?

  Learning through environmental interactions
• Classical conditioning involves learning through association
• How is behaviour learned in operant conditioning?

  Through consequences
• According to behaviourism, behaviour is learned, not innate.
• What is a key assumption of behaviourism regarding conditioning?

  Conditioning is universal
• Biological and cognitive factors are dismissed in the behaviourist approach as irrelevant
• What type of conditioning is illustrated by a dog learning to sit on command after being rewarded with a treat?

  Operant conditioning
• What is classical conditioning based on?

  Association of stimuli
• In classical conditioning, a neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus after being paired with an unconditioned stimulus to trigger a conditioned response
• Timing and repetition are crucial for effective classical conditioning.
• What does the unconditioned stimulus (UCS) naturally elicit?

  Unconditioned response (UCR)
• Match the key elements of classical conditioning with their descriptions:

  UCS ↔️ Naturally elicits a response

  UCR ↔️ Natural response to the UCS

  CS ↔️ Formerly neutral stimulus

  CR ↔️ Learned response to the CS
• What are the two types of conditioning emphasized by the behaviourist approach?

  Classical and operant
• Conditioning is considered universal across all species in behaviourism.
• Behaviourism dismisses the role of biological and cognitive factors as irrelevant
• Through what process does operant conditioning primarily occur?

  Reinforcement and punishment
• Steps of classical conditioning in Pavlov's experiment

  1️⃣ UCS: Meat powder elicits salivation (UCR)

  2️⃣ NS: A bell is presented before the meat powder

  3️⃣ CS: After repeated pairings, the bell alone elicits salivation

  4️⃣ CR: Salivation in response to the bell
• Match the key elements of classical conditioning with their descriptions:

  UCS ↔️ Naturally elicits a response

  UCR ↔️ Natural response to the UCS

  CS ↔️ Formerly neutral stimulus

  CR ↔️ Learned response to the CS
• What is the role of repeated pairings in classical conditioning?

  To create a conditioned response
• In classical conditioning, a neutral stimulus does not initially elicit a response
• Steps of classical conditioning in Pavlov's dog experiment

  1️⃣ Present meat powder (UCS), which elicits salivation (UCR)

  2️⃣ Present bell (NS) before meat powder

  3️⃣ Repeat pairing

  4️⃣ Dog salivates to bell alone (CS → CR)
• In the Little Albert experiment, fear of the white rat was a conditioned response.
• Steps in classical conditioning using Pavlov's dog experiment

  1️⃣ UCS: Present meat powder to dog (UCR: salivation)

  2️⃣ NS: Present bell before meat powder

  3️⃣ Repeat pairing of bell and meat powder

  4️⃣ CS: Bell alone triggers salivation (CR)
• What was the unconditioned stimulus (UCS) in the Little Albert experiment?

  Loud noise
• Operant conditioning is a learning process influenced by consequences.
• Match the type of reinforcement with its description:

  Positive Reinforcement ↔️ Adding a pleasant stimulus

  Negative Reinforcement ↔️ Removing an unpleasant stimulus

  Punishment ↔️ Adding unpleasant or removing pleasant stimulus
• Classical conditioning involves associating a neutral stimulus with a reflexive response
• What was the unconditioned response (UCR) in Pavlov's dog experiment?

  Salivation
• Timing and repetition are essential for effective classical conditioning.
• Match the key elements of classical conditioning with their descriptions:

  UCS ↔️ Naturally triggers a response

  UCR ↔️ Natural reaction to the UCS

  NS ↔️ Initially elicits no response

  CS ↔️ Triggers a learned response
• What is the neutral stimulus (NS) in the Little Albert experiment?

  White rat
• Reinforcement aims to increase behaviour, while punishment aims to decrease it.
• Steps in the Little Albert experiment

  1️⃣ Loud noise (UCS) scares Albert (UCR)

  2️⃣ Present white rat (NS) alongside loud noise

  3️⃣ Repeat pairings

  4️⃣ Albert shows fear to the white rat alone (CS → CR)
• Positive reinforcement involves adding a pleasant stimulus
• Negative reinforcement involves removing an unpleasant stimulus to decrease behavior frequency.

  False
• Match the reinforcement type with its example:

  Positive Reinforcement ↔️ Treat for completing homework

  Negative Reinforcement ↔️ Turning off an alarm

  Punishment ↔️ Grounding a teenager
• What type of methods does the behaviorist approach rely on?

  Scientific methods
• The behaviorist approach has no practical applications in education.

  False
• The behaviorist approach emphasizes that conditioning is the primary mechanism for learning
• What do behaviorists believe about behavior in terms of learning?

  Behavior is learned