Evaluation

• Evaluate the usefulness of conditioning theories

  Classical (Pavlov)- starting point for many other researchers such as Watson and Rayner, and Skinner

  Operant- can be used to explain a lot of behaviours such as addiction, language acquisition as well as helping parents teaching behaviour.
• Evaluate the application of conditioning theories

  Huge practical applications such as for token economies (a system where appropriate healthy living is positively rewarded), and psychiatric hospitals
• Evaluate how scientific the conditioning theories are

  The concepts are defines, precisely measured, and controlled in lab experiment. All theorists used scientific conditions in a controlled and standardised way- research is high in validity
• Evaluate the mundane realism

  Low mundane realism- lab experiments to test human behaviour are not natural and lack mundane realism
• Evaluate how reductionist the theories are

  they reduce all human behaviour down to a stimulus-response reaction. It ignores any roles of genetics or hormones
• Evaluate the generalisability of the theories

  Much of the research is done on animals which is a weakness as it assumes humans would behave the same way and we cannot be certain of this
• Evaluate the ethical issues of the theories

  Pavlov- treated dogs poorly and caused them unnecessary harm and distress