behaviourist approach

• the behaviourist approach assumes we should study observable behaviour only. Psychology should be based on empirical evidence
• the behaviourist approach assumes most behaviour is learned through experience as we interact with our environment.
• behaviourists assume humans and animals share the same learning mechanisms, so research can use animals to reach conclusions about human behaviour
• classical conditioning is when something neutral becomes associated with something that already makes you feel a certain way. Learning through association.
• Neutral stimulus is a stimulus that elicits no response
• Unconditioned stimulus is when a stimulus makes us feel or respond a certain way.
• Unconditioned response is the response we get from an unconditioned stimulus.
• After classical conditioning, the neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus, which causes a conditioned response.
• A conditioned stimulus is a stimulus that triggers a conditioned response after classical conditioning
• A conditioned response is a learned response to a previously neutral stimulus.
• Ivan Pavlov was the first to study classical conditioning with dogs. Before the experiment, the neutral stimulus was the bell and the unconditioned stimulus was the food, which caused the unconditioned response of salivating. Then, the neutral stimulus became associated with the unconditioned stimulus. As a result, the 

  bell became a conditioned stimulus, which caused a conditioned response.
• Operant conditioning is when a person learns to associate their action with reinforcement or punishment
• Classical conditioning is when a neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus through repeated association with an unconditioned stimulus
• reinforcement is when operant conditioning makes someone more likely to repeat a behaviour
• positive reinforcement is when behaviour is reinforced by receiving a reward so it is more likely to be repeated
• negative reinforcement is when actions are reinforced by taking away something negative so it is more likely to be repeated
• punishment is when a negative outcome makes you less likely to repeat the behaviour
• Skinner's box was designed to observe animal response. It contained a lever, food dispenser & electrified floor. Skinner found once the rat learned it would receive food from pressing the lever, it would associate the action with the reward. Support for positive reinforcement. Rat would press lever to stop electric shocks. Support for negative reinforcement.
• Scientific. Behaviourist theories use controlled experimental methods and the behaviourist approach is based off of empirical evidence as it assumes psychology must be based off of observable behaviour. Skinner's box studied how rats learn through operant conditioning and applied the scientific method rigorously. This is positive as high control over extraneous variables allows for high internal validity.
• Can be used to understand and treat mental disorders. Learning mechanisms can be used to develop psychological treatments. For example, classical conditioning can be used to treat phobias by replacing a negative association with a positive association. This is positive as it has practical applications.
• Overly reductionist. Behaviourists explain behaviour purely in terms of stimulus and response and don't study mental processes such as attention and memory, as they aren't directly observable. Behaviourism ignores innate behaviours that are genetically inherited. This is problematic as it provides a simplistic explanation of behaviour and ignores the role of mental processes and genetics
• Relies on animal research and unethical. For example, Skinner's theory of operant conditioning was based off of rat studies and Pavlov's theory of classical conditioning was based off of dogs. Skinner's rats were not protected from harm as they received electric shocks. This is problematic as results may lack generalisability and goes against the ethical code of conduct.