behaviourism

• opening statement


  The behaviourist approach is a way of explaining behaviour in terms of what is observable and measurable, and in terms of learning. The approach identified two forms of learning: Classical conditioning and operant conditioning. Classical conditioning is learning through association.
• paragraph 1 


  first demonstrated by Pavlov. He revealed dogs could be conditioned to salivate (unconditioned response) to the sound of a bell (neutral stimulus) If it was repeatedly present at the same time as food (unconditioned stimulus.) The dogs gradually learned to associate the sound of the bell (conditioned stimulus) with food
• paragraph 2 


  Another form of learning the approach identifies is operant conditioning where behaviour is shaped and maintained by its consequences. These possible consequences are positive reinforcement , negative reinforcement and punishment . Skinner demonstrated these reinforcements through a series of experiments with (skinner boxes)

  One example of his experiment is everytime the rat would activate a lever within the box, it was rewarded with a food pellet
• strength 1

  P – One strength of behaviourism is that it has led to successful therapies.

  E - The principle of classical conditioning can be applied to the treatment of phobias and has led to the development of an effective method called ‘systematic desensitisation’. The principle of operant conditioning can be applied to the management of schizophrenia and has led to the development of an effective method called ‘token economy’.

  K – This shows that the behaviourist theories of classical and operant conditioning have useful real world applications.
• strength 2

  P – Another strength of behaviourism is that it is scientific.

  E - Behaviourism is associated with measuring observed behaviour in highly controlled laboratory settings (for example, Pavlov or Skinner). As it emphasises the importance of objectivity and replication, it gave psychology credibility and status within the scientific community.

  K – This is a strength for both the theory itself and the underpinning research that supports it. 
• weakness 1

  P – One limitation of behaviourism is that the theory is underpinned by research on animals.

  E - Animals in such research (e.g. Pavlov & Skinner) are often exposed to stressful situations and conditions. As well as the ethical issues associated with using animals in research, stress levels may also have affected how they responded to the experimental situation.

  K – Therefore, the research has issues of validity, and therefore, the theory has issues of scientific credibility.
• weakness 2

  P – Another limitation of behaviourism is that it can be criticised for being overly deterministic.

  E - The approach sees all behaviour as determined by past experiences that have been conditioned, thus being deterministic. It ignores any possibility that people may have free will and make personal choices about their behaviours.

  K - Therefore, the behaviourist theory could be considered to be an incomplete explanation of human behaviour.