Download The behavioural approach is the assumption that behaviour is

The behavioural approach is the assumption that behaviour is learned.
Introduction
The behavioural approach is the assumption that behaviour is learned. Experience
and interactions with the environment make us what we are. This perspective has
been called environment determinism because it suggests that we are determined
by the environments in which we exist.
The main features of behaviourist theory The second assumption is that all
behaviour can be explained in terms of conditioning theory. Conditioning
refers to changing behaviour in the absorbable behaviour.
The third main assumption is that we need to look no further than the behaviours
we can observe in order to understand and explain how humans and non-humans
animals operate. It is sufficient to be concerned only with external and observable
behaviour.
A further assumption of the behaviour approach is that humans and non- human
animals are only qualitatively different. This is supported by the theory of evolution
which suggests that all animals have evolved from common ancestors and are built
from the same unit.
Much behaviorist research is conducted with non-human animals. It is important to
recognize the contrasting perspectives within behaviourism;


Methodological behaviourism; the view that all perspectives use some
behaviourist concepts to explain behaviour. This is a mild view of
behaviourism- it is the view that the perspectives is not a ‘‘stand alone’’
approach but is part of all explanations.
Radical behaviourism; the view that all behaviour is learned. ‘‘The theory of
B.F. skinner is based upon the idea that leaning is a function of change in
overt behavior. Changes in behavior are a result of an individuals response
to events that occur in the environment.’’ (tip.psychology.org/skinner.htm.)
Neo-behaviourism- this is a newer development and an extension of behaviourism.
The best known example is social.
Learning theory which was an attempt by Albert Bandura to reformulate learning
theory to include a role for cognitive factors. The principle of social learning theory
is that we learn through indirect rewards, as well as through direct rewards.
‘‘Albert Bandura argued that individuals, especially children learn aggressive
responses from observing others, either personally or through the media and
environment. He stated that many individuals
Ciara Fegan believed that aggression will produce reinforcements. These
reinforcements can formulate into reduction of tension, gaining financial rewards
or
gaining
the
praise
of
others,
or
building
self
esteem
(www.des.emory.edu./mfp/bandurabio.html).
Pavlov experimented with dogs, studying the relationship between salivation and
digestion. By applying stimuli to animals in a variety of ways, using sound, visual and
tactile stimulation he was able or makes animals salivate weather they were in
presence of food or not, a phenomenon he called the conditioned reflex. Pavlov’s
research a conditional reflexes greatly influenced not only science but also popular
culture the phrase Pavlov’s dog’’ is often used to describe someone who merely
reacts to a situation rather than using critical thinking.
Skinner (1904-1990) is credited with the theory of ‘‘operant conditioning.’’ Skinner
developed an apparatus which allowed him to observe and record the frequency of
an animal behaviour (now called the Skinner box). Skinner found that when a
hungry rat was placed in the box, it would engage in random behaviour.
Eventually, purely by accident, the rat would press the lever. At this point, the rat
was automatically reinforced with a food pellet. Skinner discovered that if food
was present the level was pressed more frequently. However, if a mild electric
current, was given to the rat when the level was pressed, level-pressing decreased
significantly. He recognized that he could influence the animal’s behaviour.
Skinner defined a reinforcement as anything that increases the frequency of
response. Positive out comes to children behaviour.
Negative outcomes to children behaviour.
Behaviourist use an ABC approach to understanding behaviour.
● A stands for antecedents; what is happening just before it occurs.
● B stands for behaviour; what the person is actually doing.
● C stands for consequences what happens next.
Positive reinforcement- is if a child has something that they really like for example a
favourite program toy, teddy, and blanket, anything they enjoy. If negative
behaviour sets in the positive reinforcement towards the children .E.g. if they do
their reading well or number work well they receive a gold star. If the child had
negative behaviour, the teacher has a warning card system and they won’t be able
to complete fun activities.
In general skinner believed that positive reinforcement was more effective than
punishment can create feeling of anger or fear.
Skinner also made a distinction between primary and secondary reinforces. A
primary rein force. A primary rein forcer is any reinforce which satisfies an innate,
biological need E.g. food.
Secondary reinforces are learned rather than innate E.g. praise, money.
There are a number of characteristics associated with operant conditioning.
Extinction- causes previously learned response to stop occurring. In operant
conditioning extinction occur when a response is no longer followed by reinforce.
Generalisation- is if a person is reinforced for responding to a particular stimulus,
they are likely to make the same response to a similar stimulus.
Discrimination- involves teaching an organism to tell the difference to very similar
stimuli. E.g. the researcher could present a circle and an oval shape to a pigeon.
Reinforcement is given when the pigeon pecks at the circle and never the oval.
Schedules of reinforcement- Skinner found that rein forcers can be presented
according to different schedules can be time period. He identified four types of
partial reinforcement, fixed interval, and variable interval, fixed ratio, variable ratio.
Shaping- which is a way of speeding up learning. Although operant conditioning is
based on animal research, there are a number of practical applications for human
beings, most behaviour responses and decrease the frequency of desirable
responses and decease the frequency of undesirable responses. It has been used to
control problem behaviours such as aggression and disorders such as phobias. It is
based on the assumption that what is leaned can be unlearned.
There is no doubt that conditioning both classical and operant is a fundamental
part of psychological explanations and of great benefits to the health and social care
perspective.
Behaviourist approaches are used by a wide range of practitioners
e.g. clinical and used by a wide range of practitioners e.g. clinical and educational
psychologists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language
therapies, teaching and learning assistants, nurses and care workers.
Social skills training is also related to learning theory and may be the only way to skills,
such as teaching autistic child some basic self- care. Broad best (1961) argued that
behaviourism is the best method of rational advance in psychology.
However there is negative criticisms that are leveled at the behavioural approach. It
suggests that criticism is not true of social learning as a more active participant in
their experiences.
The behavioural approach is also reductionism reducing complex behaviour to
stimulus - response links. However, these weaknesses are also strengths because
they enable behaviourism to be highly appropriate for experimental research,
which is needed in health and social care.