behaviourist approach

what are the assumptions

• not concerned with investigating mental processes

• suggested basic processes that govern learning are the same in all species

what is classical conditioning

• learning through association

• first demonstrated by Pavlov

• Pavlov revealed that dogs could be conditioned to salivate to the sound of a bell if repeatadly presented at the same time as food 

• pavlov was able to show how a neutral stimulus can come to elicit a new learned response through association 

steps for classical conditioning

1. unconditioned stimulus —> unconditioned response

2. neutral stimulus —> no conditioned response

3. unconditioned stimulus + neutral stimulus —> unconditioned response

4. conditioned stimulus —> conditioned response

what is operant conditioning

• learning through reinforcement

• postitive and negative reinforcement increases the likelihood of behaviour being repeated

• punishment decreases the likelihood of behaviour being repeated hat w

what is positive reinforcement

• getting a reward for a behaviour

what is negative reinforcement

• the avoidance or removal of something unpleasant

what is positive punishment

• unpleasant consequence of behaviour 

what is negative punishment

• removal of a pleasant stimulus w

what are the schedules of reinforcement

1. fixed ratio - reinforced every X amount of times

2. variable ratio - reinforced after an unpredictable number of times

3. fixed interval - reinforcement after a set amount of time

4. variable interval reinforcement - reinforced after an unknown amount of time

evaluations of approach

1. scientific credibility = highly controlled (lab)

2. real life application = token economy system in prisons

3. animals seen as passive = no conscious insight to behaviour

4. ethical issues = stressful and aversive conditions

findings of Skinner

• Skinner demonstrated that behaviour is influenced by consequences that follow

• behaviour followed by reward is more likely to be repeated

• behaviour followed by punishment is less likely to be repeated

Skinner procedure

• rats placed in Skinner box with no prior training

• Skinner then observed how the animals learned to operate the levers to receive rewards (food) or avoid punishment