Behaviourist Approach

• How do behaviourists study?

  in the stimulus response form to study behaviour under controlled lab conditions
• What is the main belief of the behaviourist approach?

  that all behaviour is acquired and maintained through classical and operant conditioning. Hence, behaviour can only be objectively measured and observed under heavily controlled conditions.
• What did Watson and Skinner disagree with?

  the subjective nature of Wundt’s introspective methods, and the inability to formulate general laws from his observations.
• What did Skinner believe about free will?

  That free will is an illusion and that all human action was the direct result of conditioning.
• Why can animals replace humans in behaviourist experimental research?

  the basic laws regarding learning are the same across both non-humans and humans
• What is classical conditioning?

  learning which occurs through associations made between the unconditioned stimulus and the neutral stimulus.
• What are the advantages of Pavlov's study? (4)

  Controlled methods: giving the study credibility and reliability

  
  

  Insight into the development of phobias: Pavlov's research of learning via stimulus-response has been successfully applies to humans (Little Albert Study)

  
  

  High Credibility: Elements of Pavlov's research have been supported in Watson & Rayner's research

  
  

  Valuable contribution to society: Pavlov's research provides powerful explanations for the development of a variety of behaviours including psychological disorders
• Outline Pavlov's study (4)

  1. Before conditioning, the unconditioned stimulus (food) produces an unconditioned response (salivation).

  
  

  2. During conditioning, the unconditioned stimulus was repeatedly paired with a neutral stimulus (a bell), to produce the same unconditioned response of salivation.

  
  

  3. Association made between the unconditioned stimulus and the neutral stimulus after repeated

  
  

  4. After conditioning, the neutral stimulus became the conditioned stimulus, producing the conditioned response of salivation
• What are the disadvantages of Pavlov's study?

  The use of animals is a criticism of Pavlov's research: human behaviour is driven by complex emotions and thought processes. Therefore, generalisations between humans and animals must be made with caution.

  
  

  Much human behaviour is voluntary and therefore cannot be explained by Classical Conditioning. There must be other learning processes involved.

  
  

  Classical conditioning ignores the role of cognitive and biological factors which have also been shown to play a role in learning
• Give a summary of the Little Albert Study

  A white laboratory rat was placed near Albert, and he was allowed to play with it. At this point, Watson and Rayner made a loud sound behind Albert's back by striking a suspended steel bar with a hammer each time the baby touched the rat. Albert responded to the noise by crying and showing fear. He then associated fear with the white rat and any objects similar to it.
• What are the advantages of the Little Albert Study?

  The case of Little Albert was carefully documented.

  
  

  Witnesses helped record the data and there were strict controls.

  
  

  Only one variable was changed at a time.

  
  

  It is evidence that classical conditioning can occur in humans.

  
  

  Useful to understand how to acquire phobias.
• What are the disadvantages of the Little Albert Study?

  The study was unethical. He was clearly distressed, and although they let him rest between tests, they continued even though he was clearly unhappy and frightened.

  
  

  The setting and tasks were artificial, so it lacks ecological validity.

  
  

  The setting of a lab setting may have made Little Albert initially anxious and distressed.
• What is operant conditioning?

  a type of learning in which a new voluntary behaviour is associated with a consequence - reinforcement makes the behaviour more likely to occur, while punishment makes it less likely to occur.
• How was positive reinforcement shown with the Skinner box?

  when the rats pressed down on a lever to receive food as a reward, and subsequently learnt to repeat this action to increase their rewards.
• How was negative reinforcement shown with the Skinner Box?

  when the rat learnt to press down on the lever to avoid the unpleasant consequence of an electric shock.
• What are the strengths of the Skinner Box?

  Controlled conditions of the experiment

  
  

  Results from experiment was repeatable
• What are the disadvantages of the Skinner Box?

  Generalising and applying the findings of rats to humans is problematic given that cognitions are ignored
• What is variable ratio?

  Giving rewards occasionally in intervals to prolong repetition of behaviour
• What does tabula rasa?

  The mind in its hypothetical primary blank or empty state before receiving outside impressions
• What are the overall strengths of the behaviourist approach?

  Experimentally tested with controlled methods

  
  

  Real life Application: For example, the token system within prison

  
  

  Focuses on the present not the past: behaviourists focus on the 'here and now' rather than rooting into the past
• What are the overall weaknesses of the behaviourist approach?

  The behaviourist approach is a reductionist; explains all behaviours in terms of conditioning and reduces abnormal behaviour down to the most basic level, when it is complex.

  
  

  Suggests that humans are simple mechanisms at the mercy of an environmental stimuli, this also ignores the impact that biology can have on our behaviour.

  
  

  Conditioning theories for phobias cannot explain why many people are not able to identify something in their life which led to a traumatic conditioning or recall any contact with the feared object.
• Negative reinforcement

  occurs when something unpleasant is

  taken away.

  e.g no homework = detention so to avoid detention you do the homework
• Positive Reinforcement

  Positive reinforcement is when something desirable is obtained to make behaviour happen again... to behave the same way again in order to receive the reward.

  
  

  e.g A child gets £5 for washing the car.
• Punishment :

  behaviour will reduce if it causes an unpleasant situation.

  
  

  e.g A parent shouts at a child for crossing the street without looking.