Behaviourism Major Psychological Theory

1. BehaviourismMajor Psychological Theory

2. Basic Idea of Behaviourism • We learn how to behave based on how society and the environment responds to us • We are a tabula rasa –a blank slate upon which learning is ‘inscribed’ http://gemparenting.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/kids.gif

3. Behaviourism Stimulus S Response R -a stimulus is something that causes a response -a reaction to a stimulus

4. Demands of the environment • Over millions of years, organisms developed the ability to think, learn and survive • Which events are important to survival and well-being • Which stimuli signal something important is about to happen • Which response will produce negative and positive responses

5. Stimulus - Response Conditioning – he knows the bang will be loud, and he doesn’t like it! • We jump (response) at the sound (stimulus) of the popping balloon • The teacher gives an assignment (stimulus) which the student completes by the deadline (response)

6. Humans have some unlearned responses to stimuli – • These are called unconditioned stimuli • we salivate when we smell food • we shiver when we feel cold • we feel pain when we get hurt http://www.popsgrassfedbeef.com/bigstockphoto_French_Fries_And_A_Hamburger_2286854.jpg

7. We can learn to associate other stimuli to these unconditioned responses. • Associating one stimuli with another • YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cP5lCleK-PM&feature=PlayList&p=AC073578DF43FA08&playnext_from=PL&index=22 • Ivan Pavlov discovered that dogs became conditioned to salivate when a bell was paired repeatedly with the delivery of food. • The bell (conditioned stimulus) caused a conditioned response (salivation)

8. Called – Classical Conditioning • As in the balloon example, in a previous slide • You cringe when you hear a dentist drill once you have had that experience • The sight of candy makes you nauseous after eating all your Halloween candy at once one year • The sight of a car backing out of driveway toward you leads to fear response following accident of similar nature

9. Learned responses can disappear, and return • Extinguished - can be extinguished – become extinct – the stimulus will fail to cause a response over time • Spontaneous recovery – learned responses can also come back unexpectedly

10. Operant Conditioning • A simple form of learning in which an organism learns to engage in behaviour because of the effects of that behaviour • The behaviour operates on, or manipulates, the environment in order to attain desired outcomes • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhvaSEJtOV8&feature=related • See page 267

11. We act a certain way because of the consequences • Certain behaviours can be strengthened (increased) through reinforcement • Certain behaviours can be weakened (stopped) through punishment http://cruxandflux.wordpress.com/tag/work/

12. Primary and Secondary Reinforcers • Postive Reinforcers increase a behaviour when they are presented • Primary Reinforcers – We seek these because of our biological make up: food, liquid, affectionate physical contact, sex, freedom from pain • Secondary Reinforcers – We seek these – money, social approval, skills of our culture - because they have come to be valued by our culture and they get us primary reinforcers

13. Negative Reinforcers • Getting rid of something we don’t want, something aversive • Or avoiding something we know will be aversive • Clean our room to stop getting nagged • Close the windows of the car so the seats don’t get full of snow • Brush our teeth so that people will stop telling us our breath stinks • A stimulus that is removed or avoided is a negative reinforcement • WE ARE INCREASING PRO-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

14. Punishment – Positive and Negative • Punishment – painful, or aversive stimuli that SUPPRESS or DECREASE the behaviour that they follow • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVbGSVhKGwA&feature=related http://www.washingtontheater.com/blog/index.php

15. Use text: Adjustment and Growth • Same topic – different text: • Answer this question • Why do Psychologists think punishment is inferior to positive reinforcement, especially in child-rearing? On page 51/52 of your text, find 4 reasons and list them. Make sure you read both paragraphs on the topic. Please hand in your work.

16. Positive punishment (stops behaviour when punishment is applied) • Positive or aversive punishment • Applying aversive stimuli • Hitting • Verbal reprimand • Hand on a hot stove • Social rejection (That hat is so “ “) • Rapid results! p. 269 Why does positive punishment get rapid results? • What are the limitations of positive punishment – why isn’t it the best choice?

17. Negative Punishment – stops behaviour by taking something away • Monetary fines, loss of privileges, groundings • Must be something the child wants to have • Don’t punish by withholding love • Questions: p. 270 – next slide

18. Page 270 Regular Psych text • What are the advantages of negative punishment over positive punishment? • What should parents withhold? • What should they never withhold? • When parents use punishment, they should focus on telling the child they don’t like what, instead of expressing dislike for the child • Why is positive reinforcement better?