The behaviourist
approach
Classical and operant
conditioning
History
• Watson started the behaviourist movement in 1913
•
•
•
when he wrote an article which was called “Psychology
as the behaviourist view”
Skinner (1904-1990) was also a very important theorist
of the behaviourist learning. He experimented a lot on
operant conditioning.
The principles of operant conditioning were first
investigated by Thorndike (1898).
Pavlov was a physiologist interested on classical
conditioning (dog salivation).He was awarded the Nobel
Prize in 1904.
Classical and operant conditioning
• Classical conditioning is concerned with learning
•
by association and refers to the conditioning of
reflexes – how to learn to associate new stimuli
with innate bodily reflexes.
Operant conditioning involves learning through
the consequences of behavioural responses. The
principles of operant conditioning is trial and
error learning, selective reinforcement and
behaviour shaping
Classical Conditioning Ivan
Pavlov
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhqum
fpxuzI&feature=related
• Office
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nE8pF
WP5QDM
• Can you think of any more examples?
• School? Life? At home?
Operant Conditioning
• Learning happens due to what follows. The important
part is what happens after one has done something.
• Reinforcement and Punishment:
Positive reinforcement: something positive will be added
Negativ reinforcement: something negative will be removed
Positive punishment: something negative will be added
Negativ punishment: something positive will be removed
• Can you think of any examples from
School?
Your upbringing?
Sports?
Other?
Skinners Box
Food delivery
opening
Lever
Operant conditioning I.
Lever pressing
Positive
reinforcement
Food is
presented
Lever pressing
Punishment
Electric shock is
switched on
Lever pressing
Negative
reinforcement
Electric shock is
switched off
Operant conditioning II.
Positive reinforcers
Strengthen behaviours
which result in their
presentation
Punishers
Weaken behaviours
which result in their
presentation
Negative reinforcers
Strenghten behaviours
which result in their
removal
Operant Conditioning
• In Big Bang Theory:
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euINC
rDbbD4&feature=related