behaviourist approach

• How does behavior get explained in the context of rejected introspection?


  All behavior is explained through direct experience in the environment
• What is classical conditioning?


  It is the process where one learns from association
• What are the key components of classical conditioning?


  • Unconditional stimulus (UCS): A natural stimulus (e.g., food) that results in an unconditional response (e.g., salivation).
  • Neutral stimulus (NS): A stimulus (e.g., bell) that produces no response initially.
  • Conditional stimulus (CS): Formed when the NS is paired with the UCS, leading to a conditional response (CR).
• What is the unconditional stimulus (UCS) in classical conditioning?

  It is a natural stimulus that results in an unconditional response, such as food causing salivation
• What is the neutral stimulus (NS) in classical conditioning?

  It is a stimulus that produces no response before conditioning, such as a bell
• What happens when the neutral stimulus (NS) is paired with the unconditional stimulus (UCS)?

  The dog learns to associate the NS (bell) with the UCS (food)
• What is the conditional stimulus (CS) in classical conditioning?


  It is the stimulus that, after association, elicits a conditional response
• What occurs when the bell is rung after conditioning?

  An conditional response, which is salivation, would occur
• What are the key terms associated with classical conditioning?

  • Extinction: The conditioned response (CR) ceases when the CS is presented without the UCS.
  • Stimulus generalization: Responding to stimuli similar to the CS after association.
  • Spontaneous recovery: The quick re-establishment of the association after extinction.
  • Timing: The NS must precede the UCS for effective association.
• What does extinction mean in classical conditioning?


  It occurs when the participant learns to respond to the CS without the UCS, and the CR ceases to occur
• What is stimulus generalization in classical conditioning?

  It is when the participant responds to stimuli similar to the CS after association
• What is spontaneous recovery in classical conditioning?

  It is the quick re-establishment of the association after extinction when the CS and UCS are paired again
• Why is timing important in classical conditioning?

  The NS must be presented just before the UCS to serve as a predictor; otherwise, no association occurs
• What is operant conditioning?


  • Learning through consequence.
  • Developed by Skinner based on the idea that behaviors have consequences.
• What is positive reinforcement in operant conditioning?

  It is when something positive is added to encourage behavior
• What is negative reinforcement in operant conditioning?

  It is when something negative is removed to encourage behavior
• What is positive punishment in operant conditioning?

  It is when something negative is added to make behavior stop
• What is negative punishment in operant conditioning?


  It is when something positive is taken away to make behavior stop
• who was classical conditioning proposed by


  Pavlov
• What is the name of the experiment conducted by Skinner using a rat?

  Skinner's Box
• What mechanism did Skinner demonstrate with positive reinforcement?

  Rats learned to press a lever to receive food as a reward
• How did the rats in Skinner's Box learn to increase their rewards?

  By repeatedly pressing down on a lever
• What is the definition of negative reinforcement as demonstrated in Skinner's Box?

  Learning to press a lever to avoid an unpleasant consequence, such as an electric shock
• How do positive and negative reinforcement differ in Skinner's Box experiment?

  Positive reinforcement involves receiving a reward to reinforce behaviour, while negative reinforcement involves taking away an unpleasant consequence to reinforce behaviour.
• what are the advantages of behaviourist approach

  • by focusing on behaviour which can be observed and measured empirically increases the scientific credibility of psychology.
  • has led to the development of treatments and therapies for serious mental conditions
• what are the cons of the behaviourist approach

  • his overuse of animals as research isn't done on humans due to their free will. although he opposes this with his view that free will is an illusion as its a result of conditioning, making it questionable
  • unethical, skinners box contributed to animal cruelty as well as experiments on little albert which failed to protect him from psychological harm.