Learning approach ( behaviourism )

• What are the assumptions ?

  1. People are products of environment (all behaviour is learnt)
  2. learning is the same in all species
  3. only interested in behaviour that can be observed and measured in a controlled environment
  4. all behaviour is viewed objectively
• What is a stimulus response unit ?

  • classical conditioning
  • we learn through association
  • creates a stimulus response unit
• What is the diagram for classical conditioning ?


  UCS -> UCR

  UCS -> NS -> UCR

  CS-> CR
• What was pavlovs diagram for classical conditining ?

  Food -> saliva

  food -> bell -> saliva

  bell -> saliva
• What are the 4 features needed for classical conditioning to work well ?

  1. Timing
  2. extinction
  3. spontaneous recovery
  4. stings generalisation
• What is timing ?

  • the NS and UCS need to be paired at the same time, if paired afterwords, conditioning won’t happen
• Extinction ?

  • the CR is not a permanent response, if the CS is presented enough times without the UCS then the conditioning will stop
• Spontaneous recovery ?

  • following extinction if the CS and UCS are paired again the association will be made quicker
• What is stimulus generalisation ?

  • once an animal has been conditioned they will respond to other stinulus similar to a bell
• How does little Albert show classical conditioning ?

  Loud noise -> fear

  loud noise -> rat -> fear

  rat -> fear
• Evaluation of pavlov ?

  • high control
  • objective - dog salivated
  • not as good control with humans
  • subjective with little Albert to guess fear from behaviour
• Evaluation of classical conditioning ?

  1. Phobia
  2. exposure therapy
  3. practixal application
  4. deterministic
• What is positive reinforcement?

  When you are given a reward to increase desired behaviour
• What is negative reinforcement ?


  avoidance learning where you perform a behaviour to get rid of an unpleasant stimuli
• what is punishment ?

  • getting unpleasant consequence of your behaviour
• what is operant conditioning ?

  • when you do something then get a consequence
• How did skinner demonstrate reinforcement ?

  • demonstrated positive reinforcement by rewarding the rat when it knocked the lever as a treat was given so kept pressing the leaver
  • the floor presented an unpleasant tingly feeling in its feet and it responded by pressing the leaver to stop it (negative reinforcement)
  • the rat now sees the light and presses lever to gain a treat and stop electric floor
• Evaluation of operant conditioning ?

  • practical applications- token economy
  • ignores biology
  • uses animals
• what is problem with using animals ?

  - easy to control

  can’t research human beings

  new litter of rats every 128 days
• Behaviourists don’t collect qualitative data ?

  • values objecticity
  • only observe behaviour they can observe