Psychology Approaches - Behavioural Approach

• Behaviourist approach


  Concerned with behaviour that can be observed and measured
• Behaviourist approach

  • Early behaviourists rejected Wund's idea of introspection
  • Relied on lab experiments to ensure objectivity and control
• Classical conditioning

  1. Neutral stimulus consistently paired with unconditioned stimulus

  2. Neutral stimulus eventually takes on properties of unconditioned stimulus to produce conditioned response
• Operant conditioning

  1. Behaviour followed by desirable consequence

  2. Behaviour more likely to occur again in the future
• Behaviourist approach


  • Focuses on measurement of observable characteristics
  • Uses systematic, reliable and objective data collection methods
  • Plays a role in establishing psychology as a credible scientific discipline
• Research on animals

  Caution must be taken when applying findings to humans
• Use of animals in behaviourist research has been criticised, e.g. Skinner's study involving shocking rats
• Behaviourist approach


  Contrasts with biological approach which states behaviour is innate rather than learned
• Behaviourist approach

  Advocates nurture, in contrast to biological approach which advocates nature