IFE - the Behaviourist Approach

Positive Reinforcement

Anything which has the effect of increasing the likelihood of the behaviour being repeated by using consequences that are pleasant when they happen i.e. food for the rat/pigeon. Giving a child sweets when they clean their room.

Eg. Skinners rats and pigeons experiments, the rat gets food when he presses the button.

Negative Reinforcement = NOT punishment...

Anything which has the effect of increasing the likelihood of the behaviour being repeated by using consequences that are better when they stop. Aspirin to get rid of a headache. In simple terms, it is behaviour that makes something unpleasant go away.

Eg. Skinners rats and pigeons experiments, the electric shocks only finish when the rat presses the button.

Reinforcement

Anything which has the effect of increasing the likelihood of the behaviour being repeated.

Punishment

Anything which has the effect of decreasing the likelihood of the behaviour being repeated by using consequences that are unpleasant when it happened.

The behavioural approach attempts to explain behaviour in terms of learning.

The behavioural approach argues that in order for psychology to be scientific it should focus on observable behaviour which can be objectively measured.

Behaviourists study changes in behaviour that are caused by a person's direct experience of their environment, using the principles of classical and operant conditioning.

Why did almost all Behaviourist research involve experimenting on animals?

Because of their desire to be scientific.

Also because behaviourists believed there was no qualitative difference between man and animals.

What is Classical Conditioning?

Learning through association - Ivan Pavlov.

Operant conditioning

Skinner's rats and pigeons experiments.

3 main names in the Behaviourist Approach.

• John Watson = founder of the Behaviourist Approach (first person to say introspection was not enough).

• Skinner = rats and pigeons experiments.

• Pavlov = dogs experiments.

Strengths of the Behaviourist Approach.

• Allows psychologists to investigate the effect of the environment on behaviour.

• It is very scientific and usually uses controlled experimental methods.

• It prodides a strong counter-argument to the nature side of the nature-nurture debate.

• Many useful applications such as desensitisation (treating phobias).

Weaknesses / limitations of the Behaviourist Approach.

• It is reductionist as it ignores the influences of nature and cognition on behaviour.

• Use of this perspective often relies on laboratory experiments which lack ecological validity.

• Ethical concerns may be raised.

• Many animal studies are used which cause problems when generalising/ applying to humans.