behaviourism

• behaviourism


  A way of explaining behaviour in terms of what is observable and in terms of learning
• classical conditioning (Pavlov)


  Learning by association where a stimulus is associated with a response.
• Pavlov's experiment


  He did experiments with dogs where a neutral stimulus was introduced to produce a conditioned response
• consequences of operant conditioning

  - negative reinforcement

  - positive reinforcement

  - punishment
• negative reinforcement (operant conditioning)


  Carrying out a behaviour to avoid a consequence
• positive reinforcement (operant conditioning)


  Receiving a reward when a certain behaviour is performed
• Skinner's experiment


  He experimented on rats in boxes, when they touched a lever they would get rewarded with food however sometimes they would get an electric shock.
• AO3 = well-controlled research (strength)

  It introduced scientific processes which were influential to the development of psychology as a science.

  
  

  This is as it gives it credibility and status.
• AO3 = real-life application (strength)


  It is applicable to real-life like operant conditioning is used by prisons and psychiatric wards when they use a token economy system and classical conditioning is used to treat phobias.
• AO3 = oversimplification of the learning process (weakness)


  It suggests animals are passive and respond in a machine-like manner.

  
  

  However, the social learning theory suggests mental processes occur which have a more active role in learning.
• AO3 = environmental determinism (weakness)


  It sees all behaviour as determined by past experiences that are conditioned which ignores any influence free will may have
• AO3 = ethical and practical issues with animal experiment (weakness)

  animals were exposed to stressful conditions which may have affected how they reacted