Evaluation

• Well-controlled research

  One strength of the behaviourist approach is that it is based on well controlled research:

  • Observable behaviour
  • Highly controlled lab environment
  • Behaviour broken down into basic stimulus-response units
  • Cause-and-effect relationships were established
• Oversimplification of the learning process

  One limitation of the behaviourists' approach is that they may have oversimplified the learning process:

  • Reductionist
  • Internal processes (e.g. thought) ignored
  • Other theories, SLT and cognitive approach, do identify internal processes
  • Therefore, learning is more complex than observable behaviour alone
• Real-world application

  A strength of the behaviourist approach is that the principles of conditioning have been applied to real-world behaviours and problems. For example, operant conditioning is the basis of token economy systems:

  • Used in schools, homes, prisons/psychiatric settings
  • Rewarding appropriate behaviour with tokens that can be exchanged for privileges
• Environmental determinism

  One limitation of the behaviourist approach is that it sees all behaviour as conditioned by past conditioning experiences:

  • Skinner suggested that everything we do is the sum total of our reinforcement history
  • Skinner claims that there is no "free will" and that it is an illusion
  • Ignores the influence of conscious decision-making
• Extra limitations

  Low phylogenetic similarity: we can't generalise findings from Skinner's animals as they are very different from humans and they are less sentient beings.

  Ethical treatment of animals.