Describe the assumptions of the behaviourist approach

• Point (blank slate)

  One assumption of the behaviourist approach is that humans are born as a ‘blank slate’ and that all behaviour is learned from the environment
• Evidence (blank slate)

  Behaviourists believe that individuals are not born with innate knowledge or mental content. Instead, they argue that behaviour is shaped entirely by interactions with the environment. This perspective supports the nurture side of the nature-nurture debate, emphasising that social and environmental factors determine behaviour rather than biological or genetic influences
• Explain (blank slate)

  This assumption aligns with the idea of environmental determinism, which suggests that early experiences, such as rewards, punishments, and associations, heavily influence later behaviour. For example, if a child is frequently praised for sharing, they are more likely to develop prosocial behaviour, whereas a child who experiences punishment for expressing emotions may suppress them in adulthood.
• Link (blank slate)

  This assumption is important as it underpins behaviourist therapies and educational strategies, showing that behaviour can be modified through environmental changes, such as reinforcement and conditioning
• Point (behaviour is learned through conditioning)


  The behaviourist approach assumes thy all behaviour is learned through conditioning, either classical or operant
• Evidence (behaviour learned through conditioning)

  Classical conditioning, demonstrated by Pavlov’s experiments with dogs, occurs when a neutral stimulus (e.g. A bell) becomes associated with an unconditioned stimulus (e.g. food), leading to a conditioned response (e.g. salivation). Operant conditioning, studied by Skinner, explains learning through reinforcement and punishment. Positive reinforcement increases the likelihood of behaviour being repeated, such as receiving praise for good work, while punishment decreases undesired behaviour, such as detention for misbehaviour.
• Explain (behaviour learned through conditioning)

  These principles explain how behaviours are acquired and maintained. for example, in education, teachers use rewards (stickers or praise) to encourage participation, while negative reinforcement (avoiding detention by completing homework) also shapes behaviour. Similarly, phobias can be learned through classical conditioning, as seen in Watson and Rayner’s study on Little Albert, where he developed a fear of rats through association with a loud noise
• link (behaviour Learned through conditioning)

  Understanding conditioning has practical applications, particularly in behaviour modification therapies like systematic desensitisation for phobias and token economy systems used in schools and prisons to encourage positive behaviours
• Point (humans and animals)

  Another assumption of the behaviourist approach is that humans and animals learn in similar ways, meaning findings from animal research can be applied to human behaviour
• Evidence (humans and animals)

  Behaviourists argue that the basic principles of learning are universal across species. Pavlov’s work on classical conditioning with dogs and Skinner’s operant conditioning experiments with rats demonstrated how behaviour can be shaped through reinforcement and association. These principles have been successfully applied to humans in various real-world settings.
• Explain (humans and animals)

  For instance, systematic desensitisation, a therapy used to treat phobias, is based on classical conditioning, where individuals learn to replace fear responses with relaxation. Similarly, token economy systems in prisons and schools apply operant conditioning by rewarding desirable behaviour with tokens that can be exchanged for privileges. This demonstrates how findings from animal studies have contributed to behaviourist interventions In human behaviour
• Link (humans and animals)

  This assumption has allowed behaviourists to develop evidence-based techniques for modifying behaviour, reinforcing the idea that behaviour is learned in predictable ways, whether in animals or humans.