behaviourist approach

behaviourist approach

studying behaviour that can be observed and measured

classical conditioning

making associations between a stimuli in the environment and an organisms response

pavlov

classical conditioning formula

USC - UCR

UCS + NS - UCR

CS - CR

pavlovs theory

the CR is not permanent

once an animal has been conditioned they also respond to other stimuli that are similar too the CS

operant conditioning

learning is an active process where humans and animals operate on their environment

positive reinforcement

involves a reward when a certain behaviour is performed

increases the likelihood of a behaviour happening again

negative reinforcement

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

increases the likelihood of a behaviour happening again

punishment

an unpleasant behaviour, decreasing the likelihood of a behaviour occurring again

strengths

real world application

well controlled research

weaknesses

environmental determinism

ethics

skinners theory

animals are taught behaviours via reinforcement