Learning approach: Behaviourism
Assumptions (AO1)
- All behaviours are learnt from our environment.
- Focus on observable behaviour (behaviour that can be seen).
- Animals and humans learn in the same ways so behaviourists carry out
experiments on animals and extrapolate the results to humans.
- Psychology should be scientific and objective therefore behaviourists use
mainly laboratory experiments to achieve this.
Classical conditioning: learning by association (AO1)
Classical conditioning is learning through association and was first
demonstrated by Ivan Pavlov. Pavlov showed that dogs could be
conditioned to salivate at the sound of a bell if that sound was repeatedly
presented at the same time that they were given food.
First, the dogs were presented with the food, they salivated. The food was
the unconditioned stimulus and salivation was an unconditioned (innate)
response.
Then Pavlov sounded the bell (neutral stimulus) before giving the food.
After a few pairings, the dogs salivated when they heard the bell even
when no food was given. The bell had become the conditioned stimulus
and salivation had become the conditioned response.
The dogs had learnt to associate the bell with the food and the sound of
the bell and salivation was triggered by the sound of the bell.
Operant conditioning: learning by consequences (AO1)
Skinner argued that learning is an active process. When humans and
animals act on and in their environment, consequences follow these
behaviours. If the consequences are pleasant, they repeat the behaviour
but if the consequences are unpleasant, they do not repeat the behaviour.
- Positive reinforcement: is receiving a reward.
- Negative reinforcement: occurs when performing an action stops
something unpleasant happening. For example, in one of Skinner’s
experiment a rat had to press a lever to stop receiving an electric shock.
- Punishment: this is an unpleasant consequence. For example, being
grounded for not doing your psychology homework.
The Skinner Box (1953) (AO1)
A hungry rat was placed in a cage. Every time he activated the lever a
food pellet fell in the food dispenser (positive reinforcement). The rats
quickly learnt to go straight to the lever after a few times of being put in
the box.
Assumptions (AO1)
- All behaviours are learnt from our environment.
- Focus on observable behaviour (behaviour that can be seen).
- Animals and humans learn in the same ways so behaviourists carry out
experiments on animals and extrapolate the results to humans.
- Psychology should be scientific and objective therefore behaviourists use
mainly laboratory experiments to achieve this.
Classical conditioning: learning by association (AO1)
Classical conditioning is learning through association and was first
demonstrated by Ivan Pavlov. Pavlov showed that dogs could be
conditioned to salivate at the sound of a bell if that sound was repeatedly
presented at the same time that they were given food.
First, the dogs were presented with the food, they salivated. The food was
the unconditioned stimulus and salivation was an unconditioned (innate)
response.
Then Pavlov sounded the bell (neutral stimulus) before giving the food.
After a few pairings, the dogs salivated when they heard the bell even
when no food was given. The bell had become the conditioned stimulus
and salivation had become the conditioned response.
The dogs had learnt to associate the bell with the food and the sound of
the bell and salivation was triggered by the sound of the bell.
Operant conditioning: learning by consequences (AO1)
Skinner argued that learning is an active process. When humans and
animals act on and in their environment, consequences follow these
behaviours. If the consequences are pleasant, they repeat the behaviour
but if the consequences are unpleasant, they do not repeat the behaviour.
- Positive reinforcement: is receiving a reward.
- Negative reinforcement: occurs when performing an action stops
something unpleasant happening. For example, in one of Skinner’s
experiment a rat had to press a lever to stop receiving an electric shock.
- Punishment: this is an unpleasant consequence. For example, being
grounded for not doing your psychology homework.
The Skinner Box (1953) (AO1)
A hungry rat was placed in a cage. Every time he activated the lever a
food pellet fell in the food dispenser (positive reinforcement). The rats
quickly learnt to go straight to the lever after a few times of being put in
the box.
