BEHAVIOURIST APPROACH

• When did the behaviourist approach emerge in psychology?

  At the beginning of the 20th century
• What is the primary focus of the behaviourist approach?

  It focuses on behaviour that can be observed and measured
• What does the behaviourist approach ignore?

  Mental processes
• What is the basic assumption of the behaviourist approach regarding human behaviour?

  All behaviour is learnt and we are born with a 'blank state'
• How is behaviour developed according to the behaviourist approach?

  Through experience
• What are the two types of learning identified by the behaviourist approach?

  • Classical conditioning (Pavlov's research)
  • Operant conditioning (Skinner's research)
• What is Classical conditioning according to Pavlov's research?

  Behaviour is learnt through association
• What can a neutral stimulus be associated with in Classical conditioning?

  An unconditioned stimulus to produce a conditioned response
• What is Operant conditioning according to Skinner?

  Behaviour is learnt from consequences
• Who is the early empiricist that described the human mind as a tabula rasa?

  John Locke
• What does the term 'tabula rasa' refer to in the context of human nature?

  It refers to the idea that the human mind is a 'blank tablet' shaped by experiences.
• According to John Locke, what shapes human nature?

  The environment shapes human nature.
• Who led the behaviourism movement?

  John Watson
• What did John Watson oppose in his approach to psychology?


  He opposed the mentalism of structuralists, functionalists, and psychoanalysts.
• What did John Watson argue was the proper subject matter of psychology?

  Observable behavior, not unobservable inner consciousness.
• What are the basic assumptions of behaviourism?

  • Behaviour is learned
  • Only focus on observable behaviour
  • Animals share the same principles of learning
  • Humans are a blank slate
• How did Pavlov demonstrate the influence of the environment on behavior?

  He showed that dogs learned to salivate to a new stimulus when paired with food.
• What was the result of Pavlov's experiments with dogs?

  Dogs automatically learned to salivate to the sound of a bell when it was paired with food.
• What principle did Pavlov's findings illustrate about learning?

  It illustrated that behavior can be shaped through the association of events.