Behaviourist Approach

Behaviourist Approach

1. Main belief : All behaviour is learnt and not innate.

   • Classical Conditioning & Operant Conditioning are methods as to how we learn.
     • Classical Conditioning
       • Learning through association. (First proposed by Pavlov.) Occurs when two stimulus's are REPEATEDLY put together. The unconditioned stimulus & the new neutral stimulus, which eventually produces the same response as the unconditioned stimulus by itself.
         • Pavlov was able to show Classical Conditioning through his dogs. The dogs salivated when they saw food. The food was the unconditioned stimulus, and the salivation was the unconditioned response. Then he sounded the bell but had no Conditioned Response. Pavlov then put the food (US) with a bell during conditioning and repeated this. The UR was still not present. However eventually the dogs ASSOCIATED the sound of the bell with food and as a result, produced the now conditioned response and salivated.
           • From this, Pavlov found...
             • Stimulus Generalisation
               • Where the conditioned stimulus (bell) can be changed and still produce the conditioned response, e.g changing the pitch of the bell.
             • Extinction
               • If a conditioned response is constantly sounded without the unconditioned stimulus, then the conditioned response slowly disappears.
             • Stimulus Discrimination
               • Point in conditioning where results are so different that the conditioned response can no longer work - only the bell works.
             • Time Continguity
               • (Temporal Continguity) Time period where you introduce the Neutral Stimulus, and the unconditioned stimulus. - Time frame required for association to take place
             • Spontaneous Recovery
               • If Conditioned response has been extinguished then at a later time, a conditioned response may still occur
       • Any stimulus that the mind can perceive van influence any reaction.
     • Operant Conditioning
       • A form of learning where behaviour is shaped and maintained by its consequences. These consequences are known as reinforcements
         • Positive Reinforcements
           • Behaviour strengthened through rewards by something such as praise
         • Negative Reinforcements
           • Strengthened desired behaviour by stopping or AVOIDING negative conditions
         • Reinforcements
           • A consequence of behaviour that increases the likelihood of behaviour being repeated
             • Skinner showed that rats and pidgeons could be conditioned to behave in a particular way.
               • Poisitve R - Peck lever = food as a REWARD
               • Negative R = Avoiding picking wrong lever due to electric shock therefore behaviour is strengthened by prevention of shock so rats peck correct lever = achieved desired behaviour
         • Punishment does not strengthen desired behaviour, it completely stops it
         • Addiction can be due to perceived positive reinforcements of pleasure associated with it. Behaviour is likely to be repeated if rewarded with a high - Positive R. Negative r WOULD BE THROUGH WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOPMS

2. EVALUATION

   • Strengths
     • Scientific Research
       • Helped to develop psychology as a science
     • Real life Application
       • Schhools, prisons etc
     • If learned, can be unlearned -addiction
   • Weaknesses
     • Deterministic
       • Suggest that we do not have control over our behaviour, does not believe in free will and that our 'choices' are illusions that are just passed experiences
         • Social Implications
     • Simplistic
       • Mechanist view - ignores cognitive processes
     • Animals in research
       • Differences between animals and humans, so may findings may not be truly representitive
       • Unethical
       • Animas in stressed conditions & controlled - may have resulted in false behaviour in skinner box
     • Spontaneous behaviour
       • Cannot be explained using principles of conditioning