Question

Behaviourists study which kinds of learning?

a. Classical conditioning and operant conditioning.
b. Operant conditioning and instrumental conditioning.
c. Conscious learning and unconscious learning.
d. Manifest learning and latent learning.

Answer 1

Behaviourists focus on studying classical and operant conditioning, which are forms of associative learning involving the association of events or behaviors with their respective consequences.

Step-by-step explanation:

Behaviourists study classical conditioning and operant conditioning. These are two forms of associative learning where associations are made between events that occur together. In classical conditioning, organisms learn to associate events that repeatedly happen together, as demonstrated by Pavlov's experiments with dogs. Operant conditioning, based on the work of B. F. Skinner, involves learning where the motivation for a behavior happens after the behavior is demonstrated, and the behavior is modified by its consequences.

Furthermore, in operant conditioning, animals or humans learn to associate a voluntary behavior with its consequences – this consequence can either be a reinforcer or a punisher, which respectively increases or decreases the likelihood of a behavioral response. Conditioned behaviors are adjusted over time through the use of rewards or punishments, thus shaping the behavior as desired. Classical and operant conditioning are crucial concepts in the field of behavioural psychology and are widely applied in various behaviour modification techniques.