The Behaviourist approach

Behaviourist approach

A way of explaining behaviour in terms of what is observable and in terms of learning

Classical conditioning

Learning by association when 2 stimuli are repeatedly paired together.

UCS is paired with NS.

NS eventually produces the same response as UCS so it becomes CS.

Operant conditioning

Learning where behaviour is shaped and maintained by its consequences.

Possible consequences are reinforcement (positive and negative) and punishment.

Reinforcement

A consequence of behaviour that increases the likelihood of that behaviour being repeated. Can be positive or negative

Learning theory assumptions

We are all born a blank slate, behaviour is learned from our experiences

Only observable behaviour is scientifically measurable. Thought processes are subjective and difficult to test

It is valid to study behaviour through animals because they learn through the same processes

Everything is learned

Generalisation

When the stimulus becomes generalised to stimuli associated with that conditioned response.

Pavlov altered the pitch of the bell

Little Albert was also scared of other white objects

Discrimination

When a stimulus is not associated with the conditioned response as it is too different from the original stimulus so generalisation doesn’t happen

Little Albert was not scared of black dogs.

Extinction

The CR (salivation) is not permanently established as a response. If the CS (Bell) is presented lots of times without the UCS (Food) it loses the ability to produce the CR.

Spontaneous recovery

If the CS and UCS are paired together again then the link is made much more quickly

Pavlov Classical Conditioning

Showed how dogs could be conditioned to salivate to the sound of a bell.

The sound of a bell was presented at the same time as the dogs were given food.

The dogs learned to associate the sound of the bell with the food and would produce the salivation response when they heard the sound.

Showed how a neutral stimulus can become a conditioned stimulus.

UCS (Food) = UCR (Salivation)

UCS + NS (Bell) = UCR

CS (Bell) = CR (Salivation)

Watson and Rayner CC phobias

Conditioned Little Albert to be scared of a rat

Made a loud bang near him when he interacted with a white rat.

After 6 repeats, Albert would be scared of the rat

This phobia would be generalised to other similar things like a rabbit

UCS (Loud noise) = UCR (Fear)

UCS + NS (White rat) = UCR

CS (White rat) = CS (Fear)

Positive reinforcement

When there is an increase in behaviour by receiving anything pleasant

e.g Giving a sticker for doing a good piece of work. Positive reinforcement = Strengthens the behaviour

Negative reinforcement

When there is an increase in behaviour by avoiding something unpleasant

e.g. Rat pressing lever to avoid electric shock. Negative reinforcement = Strengthens behaviour

Punishment

An unpleasant consequence to a behaviour meaning the behaviour is less likely to occur in the future

e.g. Grounding a child for stealing an ice cream. Punishment = Weakens the behaviour

Skinner Operant conditioning

Conducted experiments with rats and pigeons in specifically-designed cages called Skinner boxes.

Every time a rat activated a lever or a pigeon pecked a disc within the box, it was rewarded with a food pellet.

From then on the animal would continue to perform the behaviour

Also showed how rats and pigeons could be conditioned to perform the same behaviour to avoid an unpleasant stimulus like an electric shock.

S Controlled conditions

Skinner’s research was done using scientific methods. Isolates the independent variable and measures the effects on the dependent variable. Fewer extraneous variables

He was able to establish a cause and effect relationship between different reinforcements and its effects on behaviour

Increases the validity of results.

S Practical applications

Use of systematic desensitisation to treat phobias which is based on classical conditioning.

Anxiety (CR) about a situation or object (CS) is replaced with another response (relaxation). This removes the fear.

Increases the value of the behaviourist approach

W Animal research

Relys too much on the influence of positive and negative reinforcement on influencing behaviour. Ignores free will in humans

Animal research may not be representative of human behaviour so hard to generalse. Behaviourism doesn’t consider the cognitive processes in free will

Reduces the validity

W No free will

This approach sees behaviour as being determined by the experiences someone has in their life and how behaviour is motivated by reward associations.

Ignores the role of thoughts and cognitions and takes away control from the individual.

This would have implications for the justice system as criminals could claim they were not responsible for their behaviour.

Considered to be deterministic

W Reductionist

Only takes the nurture side of the nature-nurture debate

Considers all behaviour to be influenced by the environment and experiences of an individual.

Doesn’t consider biological factors that may influence behaviour like the role of emotions in aggressive behaviour.

Doesn’t consider the complexity of human behaviour.