blank slate

• according to the behaviorist approach, when we are born our mind is like a "tabula rasa"- in other words a blank slate.
• we are not born equipped with the ability to think, and emotions/feelings have no influence over our behaviour.
• what we learn through our interactions with the environment determines our behaviour - we are completely passive and do not have any conscious thoughts about our behaviour.
• as a result, this perspective shows environmental determinism, our behaviour is determined by the environment in which we grow.
• for example, Bandura (1963) exposed children to a number of aggressive and non-aggressive role models who either acted aggressive or non-aggressive towards a bobo doll. Bandura found children who observed the two different role models imitated the behaviour - aggressive or non-aggressive towards the doll themselves.