behaviourism

behaviourism

1. assumptions

   • a way of explaining behaviour in terms of what is observable and in terms of learning
   • behaviour can be observed and measured so rejects introspection
   • maintains control and objectivity
   • the basic process that governs learning is the same for all species

2. classical conditioning Pavlov's dogs

   • dogs could be conditioned to salivate at the sound of a bell if repeatedly presented when the dog is given food
   • ucs-ucr ns cs-cr
     • food -saliavtion bell food+bell- salvation
   • shows how a neutral stimulus can elicit a new learned response

3. operant conditioning skinner 1953

   • learning is an active process where humans and animals operate in their environment and there are 3 consequences of behaviour
   • positive reinforcement - receiving rewards when a certain behaviour is reinforced
   • negative reinforcement - an animal or human avoids something unpleasant
   • punishment- unpleasant consequence of behaviour

4. evaluation

   • scientific credibility
     • it focuses on observable behaviours within highly controlled lab settings. emphasises the importance of objectivity and replication and is influential in the development of psychology as a scientific discipline and have greater credibility and status. however, because of the lab setting it can sometimes lack generalisability and have low external validity
   • real-life application
     • operant conditioning is the basis of the token economy system where good behaviours are rewarded with tokens that can be exchanged. classical conditioning can be used in the treatment of phobias as it requires less effort from the patient as they dont have to thin about their problems. this is a strength as it has practical use an can help patients that lack in sight
   • mechanistic view
     • animals and humans are seen as passive and machine-like responders to the environment and have no insight into their behaviours . in other approaches such as social learning theory and cognitive theory emphasise the importance of mental events during learning. these processes mediate between stimulus and response which suggests people play a more active role in their learning. means that th elearning theory may apply less to hamans and more to animal behvaviour
   • environmental determinism
     • sees all behvaiour as determined by past exepriences that we have no control over. sinner suggsted everything we do is the sum total of our reinforced historyand ignores the influence of free will. when something happens we impose a sense that we have made a decision but it is actuially our past conditioning history determines the outcome