Behaviourist Approach
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1. What is the The behaviourist approach argues all human behaviour
behaviourist ap- can be explained in terms of learning throught the envi-
proach? ronment
2. Which side of the Nurture, human behaviour can be explained in terms of
nature vs nurture learning through the environment
debate is this ap-
proach? why?
3. What is All behaviours are responses to stimuli, and automatic
stimulus-re- responses are called reflexes
sponse learning?
4. State the 2 types Classical Conditioning (CC)- learning by association
of learning in the Operant Conditioning (OC)- learning by concequences:
Behaviourist ap- rewards & punishments
proach and de-
fine them
5. What research is Classical Conditioning- Pavlov who researched salivation
associated to the in dogs (1927)
2 types of learn-
ing? Operant Conditioning- Skinner who researched rats &
pigeons using Skinner boxes (1953)
6. What is a skinner A skinner box is a scientific apparatus used for studying
box? conditioning in animals, in which the animal is isolated
and provided a lever to use to obtain a reward or avoid
a punishment.
7. Explain the Before conditioning:
process of clas- UCS (food) --> UCR (salivation)- reflex (automatic)
sical condition- NS (bell) --> no response
ing Pavlov used.
During conditioning:
NS (bell) + UCS (food) --> UCR (salivation) repeat x5
After conditioning:
CS (bell) --> CR (salivation)
1/2
, Behaviourist Approach
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_at9aap
8. Can this associa- Yes, through counter-conditioning (disassociation): if the
tion be reversed? bell is rang and the dog does not get food several times
he will stop salivating because he will no longer associate
the sound of the bell to recieving food.
9. What is positive Positive reinforcement is presenting a motivation to a per-
reinforcement? son to repeat their behaviour by adding something positive
10. What is negative Negative reinforcement is the removal of a negative stim-
reinforcement? ulus after desired behaviour is shown as a reward
11. What is a punish- A punishment is a concequence that immediately follows a
ment? behaviour, decreasing the chances that it will be repeated
12. What is a positive A positive punishment is the addition of a negative con-
punishment? cueqence after undesired behaviour
13. What is a nega- Negative punishment is the removal of something positive
tive punishment? after undersired behaviour is shown
14. What is 1 A strength of the Behaviourist approach is that it has prac-
strength of the tical applications- the theory can be used in real life. This
Behaviourist ap- approach has been useful in developing treatments for
proach? mental health issues, for example systematic desensita-
tion- gradual exposure to phobias to learn to disassociate
them. This is a very useful therapy.
15. What are 2 weak- It is too reductionist- it reduces human behaviour to envi-
nesses of the ronmental factors, so it ignores biological factors and the
Behaviourist ap- nature side of the nature vs nature debate. Therefore it
proach? over-simplifies complex behaviours.
It is largely based on animal studies, therefore it has lim-
ited ability to explain human behaviour. eg: Skinner (OC)-
rats & pigeons, Pavlov (CC)- dogs
2/2
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_at9aap
1. What is the The behaviourist approach argues all human behaviour
behaviourist ap- can be explained in terms of learning throught the envi-
proach? ronment
2. Which side of the Nurture, human behaviour can be explained in terms of
nature vs nurture learning through the environment
debate is this ap-
proach? why?
3. What is All behaviours are responses to stimuli, and automatic
stimulus-re- responses are called reflexes
sponse learning?
4. State the 2 types Classical Conditioning (CC)- learning by association
of learning in the Operant Conditioning (OC)- learning by concequences:
Behaviourist ap- rewards & punishments
proach and de-
fine them
5. What research is Classical Conditioning- Pavlov who researched salivation
associated to the in dogs (1927)
2 types of learn-
ing? Operant Conditioning- Skinner who researched rats &
pigeons using Skinner boxes (1953)
6. What is a skinner A skinner box is a scientific apparatus used for studying
box? conditioning in animals, in which the animal is isolated
and provided a lever to use to obtain a reward or avoid
a punishment.
7. Explain the Before conditioning:
process of clas- UCS (food) --> UCR (salivation)- reflex (automatic)
sical condition- NS (bell) --> no response
ing Pavlov used.
During conditioning:
NS (bell) + UCS (food) --> UCR (salivation) repeat x5
After conditioning:
CS (bell) --> CR (salivation)
1/2
, Behaviourist Approach
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_at9aap
8. Can this associa- Yes, through counter-conditioning (disassociation): if the
tion be reversed? bell is rang and the dog does not get food several times
he will stop salivating because he will no longer associate
the sound of the bell to recieving food.
9. What is positive Positive reinforcement is presenting a motivation to a per-
reinforcement? son to repeat their behaviour by adding something positive
10. What is negative Negative reinforcement is the removal of a negative stim-
reinforcement? ulus after desired behaviour is shown as a reward
11. What is a punish- A punishment is a concequence that immediately follows a
ment? behaviour, decreasing the chances that it will be repeated
12. What is a positive A positive punishment is the addition of a negative con-
punishment? cueqence after undesired behaviour
13. What is a nega- Negative punishment is the removal of something positive
tive punishment? after undersired behaviour is shown
14. What is 1 A strength of the Behaviourist approach is that it has prac-
strength of the tical applications- the theory can be used in real life. This
Behaviourist ap- approach has been useful in developing treatments for
proach? mental health issues, for example systematic desensita-
tion- gradual exposure to phobias to learn to disassociate
them. This is a very useful therapy.
15. What are 2 weak- It is too reductionist- it reduces human behaviour to envi-
nesses of the ronmental factors, so it ignores biological factors and the
Behaviourist ap- nature side of the nature vs nature debate. Therefore it
proach? over-simplifies complex behaviours.
It is largely based on animal studies, therefore it has lim-
ited ability to explain human behaviour. eg: Skinner (OC)-
rats & pigeons, Pavlov (CC)- dogs
2/2
