learning approaches : the behaviourist approach

define the behaviourist approach

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

define classical conditioning

learning by association, occurs when two stimuli are repeatedly paired together; an unconditioned stimulus and a new 'neutral’ stimulus, eventually the neutral stimulus produces the same response that was first produced by the unconditioned stimulus alone

define operant conditioning

a form of learning in which behaviour is shaped and maintained by its consequences

define reinforcement

a consequence of behaviour that increases the likelihood of that behaviour being repeated

explain pavlov’s research into classical conditioning

he showed how dogs could be conditioned to salivate at the sound of a bell, if that sound was repeatedly presented at the same time as they were given food, gradually the dogs learned to associate the sound of the bell (neutral) with the food (unconditioned) and salivate every time they heard the sound creating a conditioned response

define positive reinforcement

receiving a reward when a certain behaviour is performed

define negative reinforcement

occurs when an animal avoids something unpleasant and so the outcome is a positive experience

define punishment

an unpleasant consequence of behaviour

what did skinners research of operant conditioning conclude

positive and negative reinforcement increase the likelihood that behaviour will be repeated, punishment decreases the likelihood that behaviour will be repeated

describe the skinner box experiment to test operant conditioning

rats/pigeons were put inside specially designed cages called skinner boxes, every time the animal activated a lever it was rewarded with food, from then on the animal would continue to follow that behaviour, they could also be conditioned to perform the same behaviour to avoid an unpleasant stimulus for example an electric shock

what are the issues with skinners boxes

ethical issues as the animals were deliberately kept hungry and had no consent