Behaviourist Approach

What are the assumptions of the behaviourist approach?

All behaviour is learnt, Animals and humans learn in the same way, We are born a blank slate

What is classical conditioning?

Learning through association

What are the steps of classical conditioning?

UCS —> UCR

NS —> NR

NS + UCS —> UCR

CS —> CR

What is operant conditioning?

a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher

What is Skinner's box?

Lab apparatus which involves enabling researchers to control and observe animal behaviour.

It involves a lever, a key that the animal can manipulate to obtain a reward

What are the schedules of reinforcement?

specific patterns that determine when a behavior will be reinforced

What are the types of schedules of reinforcement?

Continuous and partial

What is continuous reinforcement?

every correct response is reinforced, producing rapid learning

What is partial reinforcement?

not every correct response is reinforced

What are the 4 types of partial reinforcement?

fixed ratio, variable ratio, fixed interval, variable interval

What is fixed interval reinforcement?

Reinforcement is given after a fixed period of time

What is variable interval reinforcement?

Reinforcement is given after varying, unpredictable time

What is fixed ratio reinforcement?

Reinforcement after a set number of responses.

What is variable ratio reinforcement?

provides reinforcement after unpredictable number of behaviors

How is scientific rigour a strength of the behaviourist approach?

- makes use of highly scientific research methods

- strictly-controlled conditions reduce and control for the effects of confounding and extraneous variables, increasing the reliability and internal validity of findings, making it more likely to be replicated

- by focusing on behaviour which is observable and can be measured, the behaviourist approach increases the scientific credibility of psychology

How is real-life applications a strength of the behaviourist approach?

- token economies have been used as a way of dealing with offending behaviour

- inmates who carry out socially-desirable behaviour, such as tidying their cell, receive tokens (secondary reinforcers) which can be traded for privileges

- therefore behaviourist principles have positive impacts in real life

How is environmental determinism a weakness of the behaviourist approach?

- behaviourist approach sees all behaviour as the product of poor reinforcement, leaving no room for free will or conscious choices

- this deterministic stance may be a more appropriate explanation for animal behaviour, whereas explanation of human behaviour should also account for emotions, motivation and reasoning skills

- hence, the behaviourist approach may be a limited explanation for human behaviour

How is a cost benefit analysis with the use of animals in experimental research a weakness of the behaviourist approach?

- skinner's box caused considerable physical harm to the rats, breaching the BPS ethical guidelines of protection from harm

- thus, much behaviourist research, at least by modern standards, may be viewed as unethical

- however, a cost benefit analysis showed that an increased understanding of conditioning outweigh the ethical costs.