Behavioural Approach to Psychopathology

Theorists: Ivan Pavlov. John B.Watson, Skinner
Concept: Behaviour both normal and abnormal is the product of environmental influences, classical conditioning, and operant conditioning.

Classical Conditioning: The discovery of the role of conditioned reflex in learning was quite accidental.

Pavlov, observed was working on a experiment to study the salivary response of dogs to food. For the experiment, he harnessed 2 dogs to an apparatus not noticed the way the salivation and secretion of the secretion of gastric juices started even before the dogs actually started to eat. He also observed that this anticipatory reaction was in response to sound of the food cart being wheeled in.

So, he conducted an experiment that  showed that the dogs could learn to salivate in response to an external stimuli (the ringing of a bell), if it is linked to feeding.

Since the sound of the bell does not normally trigger salivation, Pavlov attributed this response to acquired learning and called it conditioned response (CR)

So, the dogs produced a conditioned response when it was paired with an unconditional stimulus (CS) - in this case food.

The bell is a Neutral Stimuli

The dog salivates at the sight of a unconditioned Stimulus (CS) whether or not it is paired with CR.

The curious thing is CR eliciting the same response as CS.

So, how is this relevant to human behaviour?

It gives us an idea of how phobias are acquired - by associating a neutral stimuli like a elevator with a traumatic event and becoming terrified at the thought of riding an elevator.

From the perspective of learning, Classical conditioning,

1. when it leads to the acquisition of maladaptive and inappropriate behaviour  hinders normal functioning of the individual.
2. explains reflexive responses like salivating to stimuli associated with food and emotional response like fear when the stimuli is associated or paired with something that is painful or aversive. 

Operant Conditioning

But does classical conditioning explain complex behaviours like working and socialising?

According to Skinner, consequences to response, strengthen the response.

1. Reinforcement - Behaviour is strengthened when the individual finds the consequences to the behaviour rewarding
2. Punishment  - Behaviour is discouraged when the individual finds the consequences to the behaviour aversive.

There are 2 aspects to both reinforcement and punishment - positive (introduce of give something) and negative (take something away)

1. Positive reinforcement - Something pleasant is introduced - class is asked to clap for the child for scoring dull marks
2. Negative reinforcement - something aversive is removed (excused from doing dishes for 2 days)
3. Positive Punishment -  Something aversive is introduced - Salesman is reprimanded in public slip shod work - give the person something he dislikes - in this case a public reprimand
4. Negative Punishment- Something pleasant is taken away - Salesman is asked to work during the weekend to make up for bad performance (his weekend is taken away) - take away something the person likes

According to Skinner, this is how behaviour is learned or unlearned.