Understanding Behaviourism in Learning

What is the definition of Behaviourism in psychology?

• A theory that focuses on the unconscious mind and its influence on behaviour - Freud

• A theory that studies observable behaviour and the effects of learning and environment on it - Skinner and Pavlov

• A theory that emphasises the role of genetics in shaping behaviour - Gessell

• A theory that focuses on the cognitive processes involved in learning - Piaget

Which of the following is an example of classical conditioning, the theory that focusses on association and how we learn.

• A dog salivating when it hears a bell because it has been associated with food

• A student studying hard to receive a reward

• A child cleaning their room to avoid being scolded.

• A person learning to ride a bicycle through practice.

What is positive reinforcement in operant conditioning?

• Removing an unpleasant stimulus to increase a behaviour.

• Adding a pleasant stimulus to increase a behaviour - such as receiving a reward

• Adding an unpleasant stimulus to decrease a behaviour.

• Removing a pleasant stimulus to decrease a behaviour.

Which of the following is an example of negative reinforcement?

• Giving a child a treat for doing their homework, a reward.

• Taking away a toy when a child misbehaves, a punishment.

• Allowing a student to skip a test if they have perfect attendance - the test is unpleasant for the student.

• Scolding a pet for making a mess, a punishment.

What is the main difference between punishment and reinforcement?

• Punishment increases the behaviour, while reinforcement decreases behaviour.

• Punishment decreases behaviour, while reinforcement increases behaviour.

• Punishment and reinforcement both increase behaviour.

• Punishment and reinforcement both decrease behaviour.

Which of the following is an example of punishment?

• Giving a student extra homework for talking in class.

• Praising a student for completing their assignment.

• Allowing a student to leave class early for good behaviour.

• Giving a student a voucher for producing the best presentation

In classical conditioning, what is the term for the stimulus that naturally triggers a response? Read the question and answers carefully before answering.

• Conditioned Stimulus - something that would not produce a response in normal circumstances, such as the bell.

• Unconditioned Stimulus - producing an automatic response without learning - the food and the dog salivating.

• Neutral Stimulus - the bell before it elicits the response.

• Conditioned Response - the dog salivating in response to the bell.

What is the role of association in learning according to behaviourism?

• It is the process of our unconscious mind

• It is the process of linking a stimulus with a response.

• It is the process of linking a thought with an emotion.

• It is the process of linking a goal with a strategy.

Which of the following is an example of operant conditioning? The theory associated with Skinner and positive reinforcement.

• A child learning to fear the dark after watching a scary movie.

• A rat pressing a lever to receive food.

• A dog salivating at the sound of a bell.

• A student feeling anxious before an exam.

What is the definition of a conditioned response in classical conditioning? This is the theory where the dog salivates in response to the bell, even when the food is not present.

• A response that occurs naturally without any prior learning.

• A learned response to a previously neutral stimulus.

• A response that is triggered by a conditioned stimulus.

• A response that is triggered by an unconditioned stimulus.