L.A. - behaviourism

• The behaviourist approach is an approach to explaining behaviour which suggests that all behaviour is acquired and maintained through classical and operant conditioning.
• Hence, only behaviour which can be objectively measured and observed is studied, as demonstrated by Skinner. This is due to the founders of behaviourism, Watson and Skinner, disagreeing with the subjective nature of Wundt’s introspective methods, and the inability to formulate laws
• classical conditioning is associations made between the unconditioned stimulus and the neutral stimulus. Before conditioning, the (UCS) produces the (UCR). During conditioning, the (NS) is repeatedly paired with the UCS, producing an UCR. After conditioning, the neutral stimulus becomes the conditioned stimulus, producing the conditioned response.
• Pavlov demonstrated that dogs could be conditioned to salivate upon hearing a bell, as follows:
• : 1. Before conditioning, the unconditioned stimulus (food) produced 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. An association was made between the unconditioned stimulus and the neutral stimulus. 4. After conditioning, the neutral stimulus became the conditioned stimulus, producing the conditioned response of salivation.
• 1. Before conditioning, the unconditioned stimulus (food) produced 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. An association was made between the unconditioned stimulus and the neutral stimulus.
• 4. After conditioning, the neutral stimulus became the conditioned stimulus, producing the conditioned response of salivation.
• Operant conditioning is when behaviour is acquired and maintained based on its consequences. Reinforcement increases the likelihood of the observed behaviour being repeated, whilst punishment (an unpleasant consequence of behaviour) decreases this likelihood.
• Positive reinforcement occurs when we carry out a behaviour to receive a reward and negative reinforcement occurs when we carry out a behaviour to avoid negative consequences
• Skinner’s Box = Skinner used a rat to show the mechanisms of positive and negative reinforcement. Positive reinforcement was shown when the rats pressed down on a lever to receive food as a reward, and repeated this action to increase their rewards. Negative reinforcement was shown when the rat learnt to press down on the lever to avoid the unpleasant consequence of an electric shock.
• evaluation of behaviourism
• In an attempt to objectively and systematically collect reliable data, the behaviourist approach makes use of highly scientific research methods, particularly the laboratory experiment. Strictly-controlled conditions reduce and control for the effects of confounding and extraneous variables, increasing the reliability and internal validity of the findings. By focusing on behaviour which is observable and can be measured, the behaviourist approach increases the scientific credibility of psychology.
• Real-Life Applications = An increased understanding of classical and operant conditioning has led to the development of treatments and therapies for serious mental disorders. For example, token economies have been used as a way of dealing with offending behaviour: inmates who carry out socially-desirable behaviour (such as tidying their cell and avoiding conflicts) receive tokens (secondary reinforcers) which can be traded for privileges (primary reinforcers), such as extra TV-time. Therefore, behaviourist principles have had positive impacts on the lives of many.
• weakness is that this approach sees all behaviour as the product of past reinforcement, leaving no room for free will or conscious choices. This hard deterministic stance may be a more appropriate explanation for animal behaviour, whereas explanations of human behaviour should also account for emotions, motivations and reasoning skills (e.g. as social learning theory does). Hence, the behaviourist approach may be a limited explanation for human behaviour.
• Skinner’s box caused considerable physical harm to the rats, breaching the BPS ethical guideline of protection from harm. Watson and Rayner’s classical conditioning experiments on Little Albert failed to protect him from psychological harm, as well as not offering him the opportunity to withdraw. Therefore, much behaviourist research, at least by modern standards, would be viewed as unethical. However, a cost-benefit analysis may show that the benefit of increased understanding of the different types of learning (classical and operant conditioning) outweigh the ethical costs.