Behaviourist Approach

Question 1

What are the different types of approaches?

Answer 1

Behaviourist
Social Learning Theory
Cognitive
Biological
Psychodynamic
Humanistic

Question 2

What is behaviourism primarily concerned with?

Answer 2

Observable and measurable behaviour, as opposed to internal events like thinking and emotion. Observable behaviour can be objectively and scientifically measured.

Question 3

Give some assumptions of the behaviourist approach

Answer 3

• When born our mind is a blank slate
• There is little difference between the learning that takes place in humans and that in other animals therefore research can be carried out on animals as well as humans
• behaviour is the result of stimulus
• all behaviour is learnt from the environment. We learn new behaviour through classical or operant conditioning

Question 4

What are the 2 types of conditioning?

Answer 4

Classical

Operant

Question 5

What is classical conditioning?

Answer 5

Learning through association.

Question 6

Describe Pavlov’s research

Answer 6

Pavlov revealed that dogs could be conditioned to salivate to the sound of a bell if that sound was repeatedly presented at the same time as they were given food.

Question 7

Describe Pavlov’s procedure “before conditioning”

Answer 7

food (UCS) –> salivation (UCR)

bell (NS) –> no salivation (NCR)

Question 8

Describe Pavlov’s procedure “during conditioning”

Answer 8

food (UCS) + bell (NS) –> salivation (UCR)

Question 9

Describe Pavlov’s procedure “after conditioning”

Answer 9

bell (CS) –> salivation (CR)

Question 10

What is operant condtioning?

Answer 10

Learning to repeat a behaviour or not depending on the consequences.

Question 11

What did Skinner suggest?

Answer 11

Learning is an active process whereby humans and animals operate on their environment. In operant conditioning there are 3 types of reinforcement of behaviour.

Question 12

What are the 3 types of reinforcement?

Answer 12

1. Positive reinforcement - receiving a reward when a behaviour is performed. Therefore, the behaviour is more likely to be repeated
2. Negative reinforcement - occurs when an animal (or human) avoids something unpleasant. Therefore, the behaviour is more likely to be repeated
3. Punishment - is an unpleasant consequence of behaviour. Therefore, behaviour is less likely to be repeated

Question 13

Describe Skinner’s experiment (The Skinner Box)

Answer 13

Skinner conducted experiments with rats and sometimes pigeons, in specially designed boxes called Skinner boxes. Every time the rat activated a lever within the box it was rewarded with a food pellet. After many reputations the animal would continue to perform the behaviour.

Skinner also showed how rats and pigeons could also be conditioned and perform the same behaviour to avoid an unpleasant stimulus, for example an electric shock.