behaviourist approach
- Created by: Aimee W x
- Created on: 03-10-21 11:44
View mindmap
- the behaviourist approach:
- all human behaviour can be learned in terms of learning through the environment.
- (1) stimulus-response learning
- behaviourists argue the same basic form of stimulus response learning operates in shaping the behaviour of all species
- 2 main forms of learning investigated:
- classical conditioning
- learning by association - demonstrated by Pavlov investigating salivation in dogs
- showed dogs do not need to learn to salivate to fod and therefore food is an UCS that produces salivation - UCR. Sound of bell doesnt naturally produce salivation so bell is a NS. when he played bell at same time they learned to associate bell with food - making bell a CS and salivation CR.
- learning by association - demonstrated by Pavlov investigating salivation in dogs
- operant conditioning
- learning by reinforcement - Skinner studying rats and pigeons "skinner boxes"
- one consequence is positive reinforcement (addition of something positive) when a behaviour is performed. EG: every time a rat pressed a lever, it was rewarded with pellet. animals would then continue to perform this behaviour. if pellets stop, rats would try a few more times before abandoning it (extinction)
- negative reinforcement (removal of something negative) when behaviour is performed. EG: skinners rats conditioned to perform same behaviour to avoid a mild electric shock. both types of reinforcement increase the likelihood of behaviour being repeated.
- one consequence is positive reinforcement (addition of something positive) when a behaviour is performed. EG: every time a rat pressed a lever, it was rewarded with pellet. animals would then continue to perform this behaviour. if pellets stop, rats would try a few more times before abandoning it (extinction)
- learning by reinforcement - Skinner studying rats and pigeons "skinner boxes"
- classical conditioning
- 2 main forms of learning investigated:
- behaviourists argue the same basic form of stimulus response learning operates in shaping the behaviour of all species
- evaluations :
- strength is that it is scientific. focus on observable and measurable behaviour. EG: Pavlov and Skinner highly controlled. (+) empirical evidence.
- practical applications. SD shown to be extremely successful therapy for a range of phobias. EG: McGrath found 75% symptoms improved after SD. (+) useful in developing treatments that are effective in addressing mental health illnesses.
- largely based on animal studies. rats pigeons and dogs doesnt reflect behaviour in humans. EG: capable of controlling behvaiour in response to external stimuli. (-) approach limited in its ability to explain human behaviour.
- approach criticised for being reductionist. reduces human behaviour down to activity of specific variables such as environmental factors and ignores role that biological factors may play. EG: twin studies shown genes play a role in aspects of human behaviour. (-) approach is limited and requires a more holistic approach
- approach criticised for being determinist. approach suggests behaviour caused by factors outside our control (environmental determinism) Eg: when 2 people experience a frigthening event but only one develops a phobia. (-) approach may ignore free will.
Comments
No comments have yet been made