Psychology Approaches
Behaviourist Approach
Classical Conditioning
Pavlov
Operant Conditioning
Definition
Definition
Skinner
Real-World Application
A form of conditioning aiming to put a stop to, strengthen or repeat certain behaviours occurring.
Strengths
Weaknesses
Social Learning Theory
A form of conditioning by which responses are learnt through paired association, e.g cinnamon scents and christmas.
Neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus, this causes a conditioned response.
Conducted an experiment to demonstrate classical conditioning using dogs and their salivary responses to food.
When dogs receive food (unconditioned stimulus) they will salivate (unconditioned response.) When a bell (neutral stimulus) was rung food was given to the dogs, the dogs learnt to associate the bell with the receiving of food. The bell became a conditioned stimulus to the dogs, the dogs began to salivate everytime the bell rung (conditioned response) as they knew they were going to receive food soon.
Makes use of positive/negative reinforcements and punishments.
Conducted an experiment to demonstrate operant conditioning using rats and positive/negative reinforcement.
Skinner created a box with a specialised function to ensure rats could respond to stimuli accordingly without the influence from the outside environment.
This box isolated the rats, named the "Skinner Box"
Rats were placed in the skinner box with a lever and a closed flap that could dispense a food pellet.
Positive reinforcement -
When the rats would pull the lever a food pellet would dispense.
The rats began by accidentally triggering the lever, causing a food pellet to drop. After a few accidental pulls of the lever the rats began to realise if they did indeed pull it they would receive food. The rats therefore began to continuously pull it, learning through positive reinforcement.
Negative reinforcement -
When the rats would pull the lever the discomforting electric shock (they were constantly receiving) was put to a stop. The electric shock was transmitted through a current in the floor of the Skinner box, causing the rats moderate pain. The rats began by accidentally triggering the lever, causing the uncomfortable electric shock to stop. After a few accidental pulls of the lever the rats began to realise if they did indeed pull it the electric shock would stop. The rats therefore began to continuously pull it, learning through negative reinforcement.
Token systems in schools, psych wards and prisons where good behaviour is rewarded with a token to ensure it is repeated.
Punishment
Positive - something (usually unpleasant) is added to ensure behaviour is not repeated. For example a sports player receiving a penalty to ensure they are not playing unfairly again.
Negative - something (usually pleasant) is taking away to ensure behaviour is not repeated. For example taking away prisoner's free time if they got into a fight.
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Bandura
Direct and Indirect Learning
Mediational Processes
Social learning theorists believe behaviour is imitated by others with help from an individual's cognitive processes.
Conducted an experiment using a inflatable clown doll, whom he named "Bobo."
Children between the ages of 3-6 years watched a adult behave violently towards the Bobo doll. The children were split into three groups with different conditions, where they were then placed in a room with the doll and some items (such as a hammer etc.)
Group 1 -
Children saw the adult get reward for their violent behaviour.
Result = most children followed what the adult did, some were even more aggressive towards the Bobo doll.
Group 2 -
Children saw the adult be told off for their violent behaviour.
Result = most children didn't follow what the adult did, hesitated their aggression towards the Bobo doll.
Group 3 -
Children saw the adult be neither punished or rewarded.
Result = less children followed what the adult did, but some did (not as many as the group that watched the adult get rewarded.)
Direct
Learning from the experiences they have been involved in, e.g children remembering they received a treat when they tidied their room last.
Indirect
Learning from perceiving other people's experiences, e.g seeing a fellow pupil receive a star of a week certificate from good behaviour and then wanting to also receive one by behaving in the same way.
Attention
Retention
Motor reproduction
Motivation
The individual's ability to perform the behaviour.
The extent by which people can notice the behaviour.
How well the behaviour can be remembered.
How willing someone is to perform a behaviour.
Vicarious Reinforcement
When observing someone else's reinforcement also reinforces you, e.g when a prisoner is punished for getting into a fight, preventing you from also getting in a fight.
Cognitive Approach
Biological Approach
Psychodynamic Approach
Humanistic Approach
Synaptic Transmission
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Congruence
Schemas
Emergence of Cognitive Neuroscience
Computer models
Bugelski (Rat - man)
These internal mental processes are thought to be able to be studied in an objective way, done using inferences (based on behaviour.)
Internal mental processes can be described using models of computer processing, cognitive psychologists started comparing the brain to a computer when they came into fashion in the 1950s.
Input Processes
Information manipulation processes and storage
Output processes
A "packet of information" allowing us to organise and interpret information, schemas can be based on previous experiences. Schemas act as a "shortcut to thinking" since they provide us with the "instructions to understand information."
Conducted an experiment to represent the role of schemas on our perception of stimuli.
Split a group of volunteers into two groups, presenting them with a series of photos and then an "ambiguous" photo of a Rat-man.
Group 1 -
Were provided with a series of photos of people and then the one of the Rat-man. The majority of this group interpreted the photo as a man, not a rat.
Group 2 -
Were provided with a series of photos of animals and then then one with the Rat-man. The majority of this group interpreted the photo as a rat, not a man.
In conclusion schemas are proven to have an impact on the volunteer's perception of the image, proving that our brains may interpret information based on our past experiences through schemas.
Cognitive Neuroscience definition
The study of our biological processes in relation to our cognition, the connection between the Biological and Cognitive Approach.
fMRI scans
Cognitive neuroscience has recently emerged through the development of technology, connecting our internal mental processes to what is occurring in our brain and body.
PET scans
Positron Emission Tomography
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Provides a visual of what part of the brain is being used most for a certain task, shows the location of blood flow and therefore the function of certain areas.
Makes use of a radioactive drugs to track brain activity.
Maslow
Free Will
The humanistic approach incorporates the concept of free will, by which behaviours are not determined by internal/external forces, but are decided upon by ourselves.
Self-determining
Hierarchy of Needs
Physiological Needs
Basic needs for survival, these needs come first.
Breathing, Food, Water, Sex, Sleep, Excretion
Need for Safety
Needs for security to live a sustainable life.
Security of: Your body, Employment, Resources, Morality, Your family and your health and property.
Need for Love and Belonging
Friendship, Family, Intimacy, Reciprocal relationships.
Need for Esteem
Need for appreciation of self.
Self-esteem, Confidence, Achievement, Mutual respect, Dignity, Strength.
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An american psychologist who originally developed the hierarchy of needs to allow employers to get the best out of their employees.