The Behaviourist Approach
The behaviourst approach rejects introspection as it is too vague. Instead, the behaviourist
approach focuses on observable events.
Conditioning: Involves learning an association between a stimulus (an object) in the environment
and a response.
Conditioned: learned
Unconditioned: not learned/innate
Stimulus: something that incites activity
Classical Conditioning + Pavlov’s Dogs 1927
Before Conditioning
Unconditioned stimuli = unconditioned response
e.g., dog food = dog salivating
Neutral stimuli = neutral response
e.g., bell = no response from dog
During Conditioning
Neutral stimuli = neutral response
e.g., bell + dog food = dog starts to salivate to the bell
After Conditioning
Conditioned stimuli = conditioned response
e.g., bell = dog salivating
1. Timing
2. Extinction
3. Stimulus Generalisation
4. Spontaneous Recovery
Timing: If the neutral stimulus does not predict the unconditioned stimulus, then conditioning
does not take place.
E.g.
- If the bell rings after the food = no conditioning
- If the time interval between the bell ring and food is too long = no conditioning
Extinction: The conditioned response is not permanent.
- The conditioned stimulus can lose its ability to produce a conditioned response if the conditioned
stimulus is presented without the unconditioned stimulus.
, Stimulus Generalisation: A conditioned response can be produced to other stimuli that are
similar to the conditioned stimulus.
Spontaneous Recovery: Following extinction, if the conditioned stimulus and unconditioned
stimulus are paired together again, the association is made quicker.
Operant Conditioning + Skinners Rats 1938
Organisms spontaneously produce different behaviours and these produce consequences for the
organism, some of which are positive (desirable) and some of which are negative (undesirable).
The likelihood of organisms repeating that behaviour depends on the nature of that consequence.
Skinner placed a rat into a box. The rat learned that if he pushed down the lever, he would get food
pellets. This positive reinforcement encouraged the rat to continue pushing down the lever.
Skinner also added an electric grid that would electrocute the rat whenever the light came on. The
rat learned that if he pushed down the lever when the light came on, it would not get electrocuted.
This negative reinforcement encouraged the rat to push the lever every time the light came on.
Reinforcement makes behaviour more likely.
Positive Reinforcement: This occurs when behaviour produces a consequence that is
pleasurable. Therefore, we are more likely to repeat the behaviour again.
E.g., giving a pet a treat, praising a child
Negative Reinforcement: This occurs when the reinforcement removes something aversive
(unpleasant) and re-stores the organism to its pre-aversive state. Therefore, we are more likely to
repeat that behaviour again.
E.g., applying sunscreen, getting up before an alarm
Continuous Reinforcement: Reinforces a desired behaviour every time it occurs.
Partial Reinforcement: Occasionally reinforces a desired behaviour after it happens.
Punishment
Positive Punishment: Adding something unpleasant to a situation as a consequence. = decreases
likelihood of a behaviour
E.g., speeding ticket, chores
Negative Punishment: Taking something pleasant away. = decreases likelihood of a behaviour
E.g., grounding a teenager, silent treatment
Point Evidence Conclusion
The behaviourst approach rejects introspection as it is too vague. Instead, the behaviourist
approach focuses on observable events.
Conditioning: Involves learning an association between a stimulus (an object) in the environment
and a response.
Conditioned: learned
Unconditioned: not learned/innate
Stimulus: something that incites activity
Classical Conditioning + Pavlov’s Dogs 1927
Before Conditioning
Unconditioned stimuli = unconditioned response
e.g., dog food = dog salivating
Neutral stimuli = neutral response
e.g., bell = no response from dog
During Conditioning
Neutral stimuli = neutral response
e.g., bell + dog food = dog starts to salivate to the bell
After Conditioning
Conditioned stimuli = conditioned response
e.g., bell = dog salivating
1. Timing
2. Extinction
3. Stimulus Generalisation
4. Spontaneous Recovery
Timing: If the neutral stimulus does not predict the unconditioned stimulus, then conditioning
does not take place.
E.g.
- If the bell rings after the food = no conditioning
- If the time interval between the bell ring and food is too long = no conditioning
Extinction: The conditioned response is not permanent.
- The conditioned stimulus can lose its ability to produce a conditioned response if the conditioned
stimulus is presented without the unconditioned stimulus.
, Stimulus Generalisation: A conditioned response can be produced to other stimuli that are
similar to the conditioned stimulus.
Spontaneous Recovery: Following extinction, if the conditioned stimulus and unconditioned
stimulus are paired together again, the association is made quicker.
Operant Conditioning + Skinners Rats 1938
Organisms spontaneously produce different behaviours and these produce consequences for the
organism, some of which are positive (desirable) and some of which are negative (undesirable).
The likelihood of organisms repeating that behaviour depends on the nature of that consequence.
Skinner placed a rat into a box. The rat learned that if he pushed down the lever, he would get food
pellets. This positive reinforcement encouraged the rat to continue pushing down the lever.
Skinner also added an electric grid that would electrocute the rat whenever the light came on. The
rat learned that if he pushed down the lever when the light came on, it would not get electrocuted.
This negative reinforcement encouraged the rat to push the lever every time the light came on.
Reinforcement makes behaviour more likely.
Positive Reinforcement: This occurs when behaviour produces a consequence that is
pleasurable. Therefore, we are more likely to repeat the behaviour again.
E.g., giving a pet a treat, praising a child
Negative Reinforcement: This occurs when the reinforcement removes something aversive
(unpleasant) and re-stores the organism to its pre-aversive state. Therefore, we are more likely to
repeat that behaviour again.
E.g., applying sunscreen, getting up before an alarm
Continuous Reinforcement: Reinforces a desired behaviour every time it occurs.
Partial Reinforcement: Occasionally reinforces a desired behaviour after it happens.
Punishment
Positive Punishment: Adding something unpleasant to a situation as a consequence. = decreases
likelihood of a behaviour
E.g., speeding ticket, chores
Negative Punishment: Taking something pleasant away. = decreases likelihood of a behaviour
E.g., grounding a teenager, silent treatment
Point Evidence Conclusion
