Unraveling the Behaviourist Approach: Pavlov and Skinner

Unraveling the Behaviourist Approach: Pavlov and Skinner

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will understand the key principles of the behaviourist approach and be able to explain the contributions of Pavlov and Skinner.

What do you already know about the behaviourist approach in psychology?

Slide 1: Introduction to Behaviourist Approach

The behaviourist approach focuses on observable behavior and how it is influenced by the environment. It emphasizes the role of conditioning in shaping behavior.

Slide 2: Ivan Pavlov

Pavlov was a Russian physiologist who conducted experiments with dogs to study classical conditioning. He discovered that dogs could be conditioned to associate a neutral stimulus, like a bell, with a reflex response, like salivation.

Slide 3: Classical Conditioning

Classical conditioning is a type of learning where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a reflex response through repeated pairing. This forms a conditioned response.

Slide 4: B.F. Skinner

Skinner was an American psychologist known for his work on operant conditioning. He believed that behavior is influenced by its consequences, and that positive and negative reinforcement play a vital role in shaping behavior.

Slide 5: Operant Conditioning

Operant conditioning involves learning through consequences. Behavior is strengthened by positive reinforcement, where a desired stimulus is presented, or negative reinforcement, where an aversive stimulus is removed.

Slide 6: Skinner's Skinner Box

Skinner used a device called the Skinner box to study operant conditioning in lab animals. It allowed for controlled manipulation of environmental variables to observe how behavior changed.

Slide 7: Criticisms of Behaviourism

While the behaviourist approach has made significant contributions to psychology, it has faced criticisms. Some argue that it overlooks internal mental processes and the influence of cognitive factors on behavior.

Slide 8: Conclusion

The behaviourist approach, exemplified by Pavlov and Skinner's work, has provided valuable insights into how conditioning affects behavior. While it has limitations, it has shaped our understanding of learning and influenced subsequent psychological perspectives.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.