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36 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
- 3rd side (hint)
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Key assumptions |
- they believe we are born a blank slate and not influenced by nature - they believe much of our behaviour is learned through experiences in the environment -focus on observable events only and rejected using introspection and studying mental processes |
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Latin for “blank slate” |
Tabula rasa |
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What is classical conditioning? |
All animals are born with some natural reflexes, where a response is produced automatically when exposed to a stimulus. When this stimulus is consistently and predictably associated with another stimulus, the same response is produced without the unconditional stimulus |
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Who was the first to experimentally test classical conditioning? |
Ivan Pavlov |
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What did Pavlov notice about the dogs’ salivation? |
Dogs will salivate not just when presented with food, but also in response to other events that coincided with the presentation of food- such as the person who fed them. |
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How did he test this |
He tested this by introducing a new stimulus |
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What was the neutral stimulus Pavlov introduced to the dogs? |
The sound of a bell |
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Before conditioning |
Bell (neutral stimulus) = no response Food (unconditional stimulus) = salivation (unconditioned response) |
What happened |
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During conditioning |
Bell (neutral stimulus) + food (unconditional stimulus) = salivation (unconditioned response) |
What happened? |
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After conditioning |
Bell (conditioned stimulus)= salivation (conditioned response) |
What happened? |
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Generalisation |
The tendency for a stimulus that is similar to the conditioned stimulus to elicit the same response |
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Discrimination |
Having a response to some stimuli but not others |
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Extinction |
When the conditioned stimulus no longer elicits the conditioned response |
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How does extinction occur? |
Numerous presentations of conditioned stimulus without unconditional stimulus |
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Spontaneous recovery |
The sudden reappearance of the conditioned response after a period of apparent extinction. |
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What is operant conditioning? |
Animals produce behaviour spontaneously The consequence of that behaviour determines weather the animal repeats it or not If a behaviour has a pleasant consequence, this increases the likelihood of the behaviour being repeated (learnt) If a behaviour has an unpleasant consequence, this decreases the likelihood of the behaviour ever being repeated |
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Reinforcer |
A pleasant consequences |
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What impact do reinforcers have on behaviour |
Strengthens behaviour and increases the likelihood of that behaviour being repeated |
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Positive reinforcement |
Providing something pleasant |
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Negative reinforcement |
Taking away something unpleasant |
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Punishment |
An unpleasant consequence |
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Impact punishment has on behaviour |
Weakens behaviour and makes it less likely to occur again |
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Positive punishment |
Providing something unpleasant |
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Negative punishment |
Taking away something pleasant |
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Who experimentally researched operant conditioning |
Skinner |
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How did Skinner conduct an experiment of positive reinforcement |
He created a cage which he called a Skinner box. The rat moves around in the cage and when it accidentally pressed the lever, food is delivered into the cage. This is an example of positive reinforcement, and results in the rat learning the behaviour (it continues to press the lever). |
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How did Skinner conduct an experiment on negative reinforcement? |
The rat was subjected to an unpleasant stimulus in the form of an electric shock. If the rat pressed the lever, the electric shock would stop, this is an example of negative reinforcement which also results in the rat learning the behaviour. |
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What are 2 strengths of the behaviourist approach |
- it has practical applications - it is scientific |
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How has classical conditioning had practical applications? |
Used to treat anxiety based disorders such as phobias It is assumed that a fear response to an object has been learned and that the association can therefore be unlearned. |
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What is the therapy used to treat classically conditioned phobias? What does it entail? |
Systematic desensitisation involves extinguishing a conditioned fear response to an object by training the sufferer to use relaxation techniques while being exposed to the stimuli linked to their phobia |
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How does operant conditioning have practical applications |
Operant conditioning is used to treat psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia. It is assumed that psychoses can be eliminated via the use of positive reinforcement. |
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What is the treatment for psychotic disorders called and what does it entail. |
Token economy. Desirable behaviours such as getting dressed or making the bed will be rewarded with a token. These tokens are then exchanged for item duh as cigs, sweets or free time. This strengthens the desirable behaviours and improves functioning. |
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How is the approach scientific? |
The approach relies heavily on lab experiments. For example, skinners research has high levels of control. The Skinner box enabled manipulation of consequences (e.g food or shock) and accurate measurement of the rats behaviour following these (e.g frequency with which they repeated the lever pressing). This allowed Skinner to establish a cause and effect relationship between consequences and future behaviour. |
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Conclusion of practical applications |
This means the behavioural approach can be used to improve lives of people in the real world |
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What are the 2 weaknesses of the approach? |
There are limitations of animal research studies Deterministic |
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Why are there limitations of animal studies? |
Much of the principles in classical and operant conditioning |
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