AO3- Behaviourist Approach

• Most research is done in a lab so has high reliability.
• As most of the research is done in a lab setting it lacks ecological validity.
• Classical conditioning has useful applications in Clinical Psychology, as treatment programmes such as systematic desensitisation.
• Classical conditioning ignores any biological explanations for behaviour.
• Classical conditioning does not account for the role of cognition in behaviour as this is not observable.
• Classical conditioning can help children learn new information by making associations.
• Lab experiments allow cause and effects to be tested.
• Strength:

  P-Scientific Credibility:

  B-Focuses on the measurement of observable behaviours in highly controlled settings.

  Behaviourists rejected the previous explanations of introspection as it lacked objectivity.

  S-Behaviourism has been influential in the development of psychology as a scientific subject.
• Strength:

  P-Real life applications

  B-Token Economy. Patients get tokens in exchange for privileges. Other treatments include Systematic Densitisation for phobias.

  S-Suggests that Behaviourism has validity.
• Weakness:

  P-Views human behaviour in a mechanistic way.

  B-Approach ignores the role of thinking before we behave. Assumes humans and animals are like machines and do things without any thought. It is possible that humans have an element of free will.

  S-Possible that people may take a more active approach. May not be a complete expansion for behaviour.
• Weakness:

  P-Ethical and practical issues involved in Pavlov and Skinner's research.

  B-Animals are placed in stressful conditions. May have affected their reactions and behaviours. Unethical conditions.

  S-May not have been natural reaction. Suggests results lack validity.