Psychology: Approaches
Behaviour Approach
Assumptions:
Behaviourist approach is only interested in studying behaviour that is observable and
measurable.
They tried to maintain more control and objectivity within their research (lab).
They believe in nature not nurture
They believe we don’t have free will
Animals could replace humans as experimental subjects- they are similar
Classical conditioning- Pavlov’s research:
- Learning through association, occurs when 2 stimuli repeatedly paired together. The
neutral stimulus eventually produces the same response that was first produced by
the unlearned stimulus alone.
- He demonstrated this through a study with dogs- where they associated the sound
of a bell and food every time there was a sound of a bell then they were presented
with food at the same time.
Operant conditioning- Skinner’s research:
- Skinner suggested that learning is an active process whereby humans and animals
operate on their environment.
- In this condition, there are 3 types of consequences:
o Positive reinforcement—Do good for something pleasant
o Negative reinforcement—Do good to avoid something unpleasant
o Punishment—Facing an unpleasant consequence of behaviour
Evaluation:
High control (lab)- replication is more possible
Real life application- operant condition system is used in institutions such as prisons
From a behaviourist perspective, animals and humans are seen as machine-like
responders to the environment; this ignores the importance of mental events. These
processes which meditate between the stimulus and response suggest that people
may play a more active role in their learning- Applies less to human behaviour than
to animal behaviour
Skinner suggested that everything we do is the total of our reinforcement history.
This ignores that we have free will on our behaviour. He believes our history
determines the outcome/ future.
Ethical issues involved with animals- could be harmed during the process.
Behaviour Approach
Assumptions:
Behaviourist approach is only interested in studying behaviour that is observable and
measurable.
They tried to maintain more control and objectivity within their research (lab).
They believe in nature not nurture
They believe we don’t have free will
Animals could replace humans as experimental subjects- they are similar
Classical conditioning- Pavlov’s research:
- Learning through association, occurs when 2 stimuli repeatedly paired together. The
neutral stimulus eventually produces the same response that was first produced by
the unlearned stimulus alone.
- He demonstrated this through a study with dogs- where they associated the sound
of a bell and food every time there was a sound of a bell then they were presented
with food at the same time.
Operant conditioning- Skinner’s research:
- Skinner suggested that learning is an active process whereby humans and animals
operate on their environment.
- In this condition, there are 3 types of consequences:
o Positive reinforcement—Do good for something pleasant
o Negative reinforcement—Do good to avoid something unpleasant
o Punishment—Facing an unpleasant consequence of behaviour
Evaluation:
High control (lab)- replication is more possible
Real life application- operant condition system is used in institutions such as prisons
From a behaviourist perspective, animals and humans are seen as machine-like
responders to the environment; this ignores the importance of mental events. These
processes which meditate between the stimulus and response suggest that people
may play a more active role in their learning- Applies less to human behaviour than
to animal behaviour
Skinner suggested that everything we do is the total of our reinforcement history.
This ignores that we have free will on our behaviour. He believes our history
determines the outcome/ future.
Ethical issues involved with animals- could be harmed during the process.
