APPROACHES- behaviourism (1)

What is assumption 1 of the behaviourism approach?

Behaviour can be explained in terms of classical conditioning

What does classical conditioning mean?

Learning by association

Who came up with assumption 1?

Ivan Pavlov

What’s the equation of Ivan Pavlovs theory?

Unconditioned stimulus → Unconditioned response

Unconditioned stimulus + Neutral stimulus → Unconditioned response

Conditioned stimulus → Conditioned response

What’s 4 other important features of classical conditioning?

• timing- the timing of NS and UCS must be right or conditioning may not take place

• Extinction- the CR does not always become permanently established. If the CS is presented a few times without the UCS then the behaviour disappears

• Spontaneous recovery- following extinction, if the UCS and CS are paired back together, then the link between them is made up much more quickly

• Stimulus generation- once an animal has been conditioned, they will also respond to other stimuli that are similar to the CS

What is assumption 2 of the behaviourism theory?

Behaviour can be explained through operant conditioning

What does operant conditioning mean?

Learning through rewards and punishment

Who came up with assumption 2?

B.F Skinner

In terms of assumption 2, how are behaviours learnt?

• positive reinforcement- adding something positive (reward)

• Negative reinforcement- taking away something negative

In terms of assumption 2, how are behaviours stopped?

• positive punishment- adds something unpleasant

• Negative punishment- takes away something pleasant

What was B.F Skinners procedure?

• he conducted experiments with rats/pigeons

• They were isolated in a highly controlled environment (Skinner boxes) and deliberately kept unfed

They were rewarded with a food pellet for (rats) pressing the lever and (pigeons) pecking disc

→ they would also have to press the lever/peck disk to avoid electric shock

What is the first advantage of the behaviourist approach?

Been applied to therapies that have been created to treat phobias. For example, systematic desensitisation is a therapy that uses classical conditioning. therapists try to eliminate the learned fear response (anxiety) and replace it with a new one (relaxation). This has found to be effective in treating many common phobias. This matter matters because it demonstrates the utility of the behaviourist approach in improving the lives of those with phobias.

what is the second advantage of the behaviourist approach?

There is research to support it from Watson and Raynor. They demonstrated the process of classical conditioning in little Albert, who was conditioned to fear white rats. They did this by making a loud noise every time he reached for the rat. Eventually, little Albert formed in an association so that the rat became CS which produced the CR. This matters because it highlight her behaviour can be explained in terms of the way we learn it in this case through classical conditioning.

what is one criticism of the behaviourist approach?

it’s overlooked other factors. For example, the biological approach which also explains behaviour (so this approach is reductionist). Behaviourist assume that all our behaviour is learnt through classical/operant conditioning. However biological psychologists argue that behaviour is also product of biological processes such as our genes. This matters because it shows that the behaviourist approach cannot offer a complete explanation of human behaviour, other factors such as biology do need to be considered as well.