The behaviourist approach

• Behaviourist approach: A way of explaining behaviour in terms of what is observable and in terms of learning
• Classical conditioning: Learning by association. occurs when two stimuli are repeatedly paired together- an unconditioned stimulus (UCS) and a new neutral stimulus (NS). The NS will eventually reproduce the same result as the UCS alone.
• Operant conditioning: A form of learning in which behaviour is shaped and maintained by its consequences. Incudes positive/negative reinforcement and punishment's.
• Reinforcement: A consequence of behavior that increases the likelihood of that behavior being repeated. Can be positive of negative.
• The behaviorist approach:

  • Only interested in studying behavior which can be observed and measured.
  • Not concerned with mental processes.
  • Use lab studies.
  • Believe all behavior is learned.
• Pavlov's dog's:

  • He demonstrated that dog's could be conditioned to salivate at the sound of a bell.
  • The food (unconditioned stimulus) created a response from the dog which was salivation (Unconditioned response).
  • Then the bell (neutral stimulus) was paired up with the food. The bell by itself didn't get a response.
  • During conditioning the food and bell were paired together repeatedly.
  • Once conditioned the bell (conditioned stimulus) created salivation from the dog (conditioned response)
• Skinner's research:

  • Suggested learning is an active process whereby humans operate on their environment, behavior is shaped by its consequences.
  • Positive reinforcement- Receiving an award when certain behavior is performed.
  • Negative reinforcement- When they avoid something unpleasant and the outcome is a positive experience, for example when a student hands in an essay they are avoiding being told off, or they may avoid doing something as to not be told off.
  • Punishment- This is an unpleasant consequence of behavior for example being shouted at.
• Skinner's rat's:

  • He placed the rats in a box with a lever.
  • In one box it activated a food pellet which caused the rat to continue the behavior
• The behaviorist approach- Evaluation (strength):

  • Well-controlled research
  • They focus on measurable behavior in highly controlled lab conditions, there is no extraneous variables.
  • The approach has scientific credibility.
• The behaviorist approach- Evaluation (strength):

  • Real-world application
  • For example operant conditioning is the basis of token economies which have been successful.
  • This increases the value of the behaviorist approach.
• The behaviorist approach- Evaluation (Limitation):

  • Environmental determinism
  • It sees all behavior as conditioned by past conditioning experiences.
  • Ignore influence of free will and conscious decision making on our behavior.