Detailed essay for the Behaviourist Approach. In-depth and comprehensive notes which outline and evaluate the Behaviourist approach in regards to supporting studies, its methodological strengths and weaknesses, as well as its impact in the real-world and in other areas of psychology
The behaviorist approach suggests that all behaviour is learned through direct experience.
Behavioural psychologists believe that humans are a blank slate and that there is no genetic
influence on behaviour. Behaviour is learned through a process called conditioning. There
are 2 types of conditioning: classical conditioning, and operant conditioning.
The behaviorist approach rejects the vagueness of introspection. Instead, it focuses on
observable behaviour is measured using experimental methods.
Classical conditioning is learning by associations. All humans are born with unconditional
stimuli (US) which will produce unconditional responses (UR.) During conditioning, a neutral
stimulus (NS) is repeatedly paired with the US. Over time, the NS becomes a conditional
stimulus (CS) which produces a conditional response (CR) in the absence of the US. This is
supported by Pavlov’s study. Pavlov found that the sound of a bell ringing could cause a dog
to salivate. This is because the bell was a NS which was repeatedly paired with the US of
food. The food produced the UR of salivation. Over time, the bell became a conditional
stimulus, and the salivation was a conditional response.
There are also other important features in the success of classical conditioning. The timing
that the neutral stimulus is presented is also important. If the time interval between the UCS
and NS is too large, then conditioning will not be successful. Pavlov also discovered that the
conditional response is not a permanently established response. If the neutral stimulus is
repeatedly presented without the unconditional stimulus, it may lose its ability to create a
conditional response. However, following an extinction, if the UCS and NS are paired again
the link will form much more quickly. This is known as spontaneous recovery. Pavlov found
that the conditional stimulus may have a generalized effect on other similar stimuli. For
instance, a buzzer sound may also cause the dogs to salivate.
Skinner’s theory for operant conditioning also is used to explain behaviour. This is the idea
that organisms may spontaneously produce different behaviours. However, different
behaviours produce different consequences. Some behaviours will produce positive
consequences (rewards) and other behaviours will produce negative consequences
(punishments.) Positive reinforcement occurs when the behaviour produces a reward.
Therefore, this behaviour is more likely to be repeated. Negative reinforcement occurs
when the behaviour allows the individual to avoid something unpleasant. Therefore, this
behaviour is more likely to be repeated. For instance, pressing the snooze button on the
alarm clock allows you to avoid the loud sound. Continuous reinforcement is the most
effective in establishing a particular response. However, partial reinforcement is more
effective in maintaining the response and avoiding extinction.
This was shown in Skinner’s box experiment. Skinner placed a rat in a box. When an animal
pushed a lever food was given. This was rewarding behaviour and thus the rat continued to
push the lever. Although Skinner found that continuous reinforcement helped to establish a
behaviour but did not help maintain it. He found that a variable ratio made it more likely
that the rats would maintain the behaviour. This was when the food would sometimes take
one push of the lever or many times.
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