Behaviourist Approach

• :( environmental determinism

  > states that an individual is controlled by external factors, such as learning through stimulus, response and association (classical conditioning) or rewards (operant conditioning) that inevitably cause behaviour - such as Pavlov or Skinner

  > neglects the role of free will, which could leave individuals feeling like they have no control over their behaviour

  > limits the behaviourist explanation
• :) practical applications

  > the principles of the theory, that behaviour is caused by classical conditioning, has led to the treatment of systematic desensitisation

  > effective in treating phobias - helps the individual to unlearn their maladaptive association to a phobic stimulus, by gradually exposing them whilst they apply relaxation techniques

  > important part of applied psychology
• :( environmental reductionism

  > reduces complex human behaviour down to simple basic units, such as learning through stimulus, response and association (classical) or rewards and reinforcements (operant) - example of attachment

  > neglects a holistic approach (social and cultural context)

  > lacks validity - does not allow us to understand behaviour in context
• :) scienfitic methods

  > uses lab experiments to investigate human behaviour

  > e.g. Pavlov used objective and empirical techniques, such as measuring the amount of saliva produced by the dogs during conditioning

  > increases the internal validity, and raises psychology's scientific status