Behaviourist approach

What is the focus of the behaviorist approach?

• observable behaviors that can be directly measured and analyzed, rather than focusing on subjective mental processes like thoughts and feelings.

• lab based, scientific methods

Who was a key figure in developing the behaviorist approach?

John B. Watson is recognized as the pioneer of the behaviorist approach, advocating for the study of behavior that can be observed and measured, thus steering psychology away from introspective methods.

What are the two important types of learning identified by behaviorists?

The two main types of learning are classical conditioning, which is learning through associations, and operant conditioning, which involves learning based on rewards or punishments.

What is classical conditioning?

Classical conditioning is a learning process where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with an unconditioned stimulus, leading to a conditioned response.

Who conducted research on classical conditioning?

Ivan Pavlov is famous for his work on classical conditioning, demonstrating that dogs could learn to salivate at the sound of a bell when it was associated with food.

What are the steps in Pavlov's classical conditioning experiment?

1. An unconditioned stimulus (food) causes an unconditioned response (salivation).

2. A neutral stimulus (bell) is paired with the unconditioned stimulus.

3. After repeated pairings, the neutral stimulus alone can trigger the conditioned response (salivation).

What is operant conditioning?

Operant conditioning is a type of learning where behaviors are influenced by their consequences, such as rewards (reinforcement) or punishments.

What is positive reinforcement in operant conditioning?

Positive reinforcement occurs when a behavior is followed by a rewarding stimulus, increasing the likelihood that the behavior will be repeated.

What does negative reinforcement involve?

Negative reinforcement strengthens a behavior by removing an unpleasant stimulus when the behavior occurs, making the behavior more likely to happen again.

What is the role of punishment in operant conditioning?

Punishment aims to decrease the likelihood of a behavior being repeated by introducing an unpleasant consequence following the behavior.

What did B.F. Skinner contribute to operant conditioning?

B.F. Skinner expanded on operant conditioning, emphasizing that behavior is shaped through reinforcement and that learning requires active participation from the individual.

What was the procedure of Pavlov’s dog study ?

What is a strength of Pavlov’s study ?

• use of scientific methods

• testable hypothesis measures reliability

• controlled , standardised procedures

what is a weakness of classical conditioning?

• cant explain all behaviour

• spontaneous behaviour eg dying hair

• behaviour that resists conditioning eg rejecting religion that was installed by strict environment

• limited external validity