Behaviourist Perspective

Authors Avatar
Behaviourist Perspective

The third psychological perspective we have studied is behaviourist. There are three psychologists that behaviourist perspective and they had different theories. E.G., Pavlov, his own theory on the behaviourist theory and but Thondike and Skinner are similar because Thorndike started the theory and Skinner developed it. They all studied the same perspective, so the theory for the behaviourist can be associated, reinforcement of learning. For example an infant can be seen as a learning machine, E.G., crying can be reinforced by being picked up.

Operant learning or conditioning was started by Thorndike. Thorndike believed a type of learning also called instrumental conditioning.

Thorndike - carried out a first research on cats and puzzle boxes. He suggested animals learn to associate between the stimuli, for example, being put in a box and response. E.G., pulling the string with the reward e.g., to gain food.

Later Thorndike's theory was further developed by Skinner. Operant conditioning can be referred to behaviour, which operates on environment, in order to produce the outcome. Skinner used an operant chamber, which he called Skinner box. The box with a small lever, which delivered food when pressed by the animal.

The steps were presented like this: -

. Place the rat in the box.

2. Rat explores interior (food deprivation aids exploration and learning).

3. Rat stumbles across the lever and food follows.

4. Animal learns to press lever, this will continue until it's fulfilled.

After these four stages, the concept of trail and error occurs and reinforces behaviour into positive reinforcement, which means 'in rewarded terms'.

This learning process can be speeded by rewarding it earlier, for example, when the rat goes near to the lever, the food is delivered, until the rat has learned to press the lever.

Animals tend to repeat actions, if they are previously rewarded. Animal's behaviour is reinforced. This term is called positive reinforcement. Skinner's theory relies on law of reinforcement, which states 'actions' which are immediately followed of the rewards, which are repeated and learned where as actions or behaviour which are not followed by reinforcement and are dropped.

Positive reinforces can be primary, in other terms the rein forcers is naturally already occurring, E.G., food which is a need to satisfy our physical needs. Secondary rein forcers nurture, this is when things have been learned and worth getting.

Varying rein forcers

The five major schedules can be used by: -

* Continuous- this is reinforcement every time; it extinguishes the behaviour very quickly.

* Fixed ratio- regular, for example every 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, time.

* Variable ratio- constantly altered.

* Fixed interval- this is made after a fixed number of minutes, which can once be a correct response that has been made.

* Variable interval- this is the time between reinforcement, which is varied.

Extinction- Skinner, found that is was difficult to extinguish conditioning if the animal was not rewarded after every time the animal made a correct response.

Operant conditioning- is when a negative reinforces which tends to extinguish the response. If the rat is shocked every time it presses the lever then it would stop.

Operant conditioning

Skinner's theory of operant conditioning is based on the terms of reinforcing particular behaviours. Subjects behave in some sort of way which is followed by some rewarded also associates its behaviour with 'reward', this is learned to repeat this.
Join now!


Skinner had argued learning is caused by the consequences of our own actions. This means people learn to associate actions with pleasure or discomfort, which follows, by the action, so if a child puts food in its mouth which is enjoyed then the child is more likely to repeat the action. If another didn't enjoy the food in the future. This shows that a child learns from its experiences.

Skinner used the term operant to describe behaviour, which can create learned outcomes. Operant conditioning is used to demonstrate learning consequences of action. Skinner believed learning could be ...

This is a preview of the whole essay

Here's what a teacher thought of this essay

Avatar

Overall this essay has some relevant points on theory and research that need developing. The other main point is that there is a need for planning before writing to ensure a coherent essay that is succinct and relevant. 3*