AO3 - Evaluation

• What is one strength of classical conditioning in psychology?

  Its application to the treatment of phobias. For example it has led to the development of systematic desensitisation - a treatment which reduces the anxiety associated with phobias. this treatment works by using the principles of classical conditioning to replace the learned response, anxiety, with another response, relaxation. This is a strength as it is an effective treatment for a range of phobias
• How does desensitisation work in treating phobias?

  It replaces the learned response of anxiety with relaxation.
• Why is desensitisation considered effective for phobias?

  Because it effectively reduces the anxiety associated with phobias.
• What was the purpose of the Skinner box in Skinner's research?

  To manipulate the consequences of behavior to measure effects on rats' behavior.
• What relationship did Skinner establish through his experiments?

  A cause and effect relationship between reinforcement and future behavior.
• What do some psychologists argue about Skinner's reliance on rats and pigeons?

  It limits the ability to draw conclusions about human behavior.
• Why is the generalization of findings from animals to humans problematic?

  Because humans have free will and behavior is not solely shaped by conditioning.
• What do many psychologists argue about human interaction compared to conditioning?

  It is far more complicated than a simple stimulus-reinforcement relationship.
• Who proposed the concept of preparedness in classical conditioning?

  Seligman.
• What does the concept of preparedness explain?


  Why some associations are easier to establish than others.
• Give an example of preparedness in animals.


  A dog quickly learns to associate the smell of meat with food.
• Why might a dog be slower to learn the association between a bell and food?

  Because it is not a survival-related association.
• What principle does systematic desensitization operate on?

  Classical conditioning
• How does systematic desensitization improve the quality of life for individuals with mental health conditions?

  By teaching individuals to associate their phobic stimulus with feelings of relaxation
• What do Siegel and McCormick (2006) argue about young people with deviant attitudes?

  They are more likely to seek out peers with similar attitudes and behaviors
• How might one interpret the behavior of young people with delinquent attitudes according to Siegel and McCormick?

  They may seek out similar peers rather than imitating negative behavior
• Why is scientific methods a strength of classical conditioning? 


  Skinner's research uses controlled conditoins to discover the casual relationship between 2 or more variables. Skinner's use of the skinner box allowed him to manipulate the consequences of the behaviour to measure the effect on the rats behaviour. this allowed him to establish a cause and effect relationship between positive and negative reinforcement and the likelihood of future behaviour
• Why is the use of animals a weakness of the behaviourist approach? 


  some psychologists say that skinner's reliance on rats and pigeons means that we are unable to draw conclusions in relation to human behaviour. these psychologists argue that humans have free will and that our behaviour is not shaped by classical or operant conditioning. this matters because psychologists may be unable to generalise finding from animals to humans