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The Behaviorist Approach - Coggle Diagram
The Behaviorist Approach
Basic Assumptions
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Only observable behavior is measurable scientifically so this should only be studied . Thought processes are subjective and difficult to test
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We are born a blank slate , so there is no genetic influence on behaviour
Classical Conditioning
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Learning occurs when there is an association between a previously neutral stimulus and a reflex response
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Watson and Raynor ( 1920 ) unethically conditioned little Albert to become phobic to rats . This was done when the unconditioned stimulus of a loud noise was produced at the same time as a rat - he then started to cry when he saw the rat
Pavlovs Research
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When the lab assistant came into the room with the food the dog salivated upon hearing the noise of the door
Pavlov then rang a bell when food arrived and eventually the dogs salivated at hearing the sound of the bell without the presence of food
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Stimulus Generalisation
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This meant that if a stimulus has characteristics close to the conditioned stimulus then the association will still be made
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Stimulus Discrimination
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This is called stimulus discrimination and happens when the characteristics of the conditioned stimulus and an object become too different to be generalised
Eg little Albert would not be phobic of a large brown dog as size , color and nature are different
Time Contiguity
The association only occurs if the unconditioned stimulus and the neutral stimulus are presented at the same time . If the time lapse is too great then there will be no association
Operant Conditioning
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Eg in prisons , schools , home
Skinners Research
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The floor of skinners box was metal so had the capacity to create an electric shock as punishment to the rats
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The rat learned that it would get a pellet if it pressed a leaver so it kept repeating this behaviour
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Evaluation
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Deterministic as they believe that we do not have control over our own behavior e.g. therefore there needs to be changes in legalization as we are not in control of committing a crime
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Use animals in research . This is a negative as humans are more complex but it is also a positive as it is more ethical
Skinners Analysis of behavior , to analyse behaviour you must consider :
Antecedents : What happens just prior to a behavior being performed . In the rats case it may have been light
Behaviours : Skinner called these operants , the operant in the rat example was pressing the lever
Consequences : This is what happens after the operant , in the rat example it would have been the pellet being released
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