Learning Objectives
• To explain some of the evidence in support of
the behaviourist approach
• To understand operant conditioning
• To evaluate the behaviourist approach
(homework task)
Can you explain Albert’s behaviour
using your knowledge of classical
conditioning?
Classical Conditioning: Further key
terms
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•
•
•
EXTINGUISHED
STIMULUS GENERALISATION
STIMULUS DISCRIMINATION
SPONTANEOUS RECOVERY
• TASK: How many of these key terms can you
apply to your scenarios from yesterday?
Learning Objectives
• To explain some of the evidence in support of
the behaviourist approach
• To understand operant conditioning
• To evaluate the behaviourist approach
(homework task)
Burrhus Frederic Skinner (1938)
• Developed operant conditioning
• Claimed all behaviour is learnt as a result of
consequences in the environment e.g. Gaining
rewards or receiving punishments in order to
modify behaviour
• Real life applications??
Remember me from
your timeline?
Skinner Box Experiments
TASK: Study Partners Pages 6/7 (20
minutes)
• PERSON A = Make notes on the ‘ Skinner Box’
experiments illustrate your notes with diagrams
but remember you mustn’t show the rat
THINKING it is just responding to it’s environment
• PERSON B = Make notes on what positive and
negative reinforcement mean
• Make notes on real-life application of operant
conditioning (modifying speech in autistic
children)
• FINISHED? Explain the notes that you have made
to your study partner and then, using their
notes, make a note of the info you don’t have
Further work... Pigeons
Plenary
• You work for a company who provide
‘Skinners Boxes’ for lazy pet owners
who can’t be bothered to feed their
mice / rats
• Your job is to produce information
for the pet owners on exactly how
the Skinners box works
• EXTENSION: the box has an electric shock grid installed in the
bottom of the cage, how could you use operant conditioning
to discourage unwanted behaviour in the pet owner’s
animals?
Learning Objectives
• To explain some of the evidence in support of
the behaviourist approach
• To understand operant conditioning
• To evaluate the behaviourist approach
(homework task)
Homework Task: Evaluation of the
Behaviourist Approach
• Your homework task includes writing your first
10 mark essay ‘Describe and discuss the
behaviourist approach in psychology, refer to
empirical evidence in your answer’ (10
marks)
A01 (5 marks), A02 (5 marks)
AO1 – Knowledge and
Understanding
AO2 – Analyse and Evaluate
Analyse and evaluate scientific
knowledge,
Recognise, recall and show
understanding of scientific
knowledge
Apply knowledge and processes
to unfamiliar situations,
Select, organise and communicate
relevant information in a variety
of forms
Assess the validity, reliability and
credibility
of
scientific
information
Homework: What you should know
• Read through the evaluation points tonight
and ask any questions you have tomorrow, not
understanding something WILL NOT be
accepted as an excuse for not completing the
homework, you know where I am!
• Not completing the homework will result in
you being sent from the lesson in order to
complete it and then catching up on class
work missed in your own time