AQA Psychology (A-Level) - Approaches – Behaviourism Exam Questions & Answers(RATED A+)

What is the main focus of the behavioural approach? - ANSWER -The behavioral approach is only interested in studying behaviour that can be observed and measured. What is the behavioural approach built on? - ANSWER -- The use of lab experiments Behaviourists tried to maintain more control in their research so relied on lab experiments Animals in research? - ANSWER -Behaviourists support the use of animals in research, behaviourists suggested that learning is the same in all species so animals can replace humans in experiments state three key features of the behavioral approach? - ANSWER -- Humans are born as a blank slate - all behaviour is learned from experiences in their environment - All behaviour is learned through association or reinforcement What is classical conditioning? - ANSWER --Classical conditioning involves learning through association When a neutral stimulus is paired with an unconditioned stimulus the neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus How did Pavlov demonstrate classical conditioning? - ANSWER -- Pavlov conducted an experiment using dogs (the use of animals in the behaviorist approach.) - He showed the dogs food and rang a bell at the same time, after some time the dog would associate the bell with the food. - Eventually just ringing the bell made the dog salivate. The food is the unconditioned stimulus, the salivation is the unconditioned response. - When the unconditioned stimulus (food) is paired with something that was neutral (bell), the bell becomes the conditioned stimulus.