Behaviourist approach

• Key assumptions 


  -All humans are born a tabula rasa.

  -Most behaviour is acquired through classical conditioning.

  -Conditioning occurs through direct experience.

  -Behaviourist only study observable behaviour as observable behaviour is measurable in an objective way.

  -mind and mental processes are subjective can't be studied subjectively.
• Classical conditioning 


  -Is learning via ASSOCIATION

  -an observable change in behaviour as a result of direct experience with the environment.

  -We acquire behaviour by associating one stimulus with another when they occur at the same time in temporal contiguity.

  -Forms initiation of phobias and human attachment or relapse to human addiction can be explained because of CC.
• Classical conditioning - Pavlov's Dogs 


  -This theory argues behaviours are learnt due to association between two stimuli's at the same time.

  -e.g. Pavlov conditioned a dog to salivate at the sound of a bell. the learnt stimulus triggers conditioned response. Having a neutral stimulus (bell) and the unconditioned stimulus (food) paired together repeatedly. The dog begins to associate bell with the food and now salivates at the sound of the bell which is the conditioned response even when no food is given to the dog.
• Operant conditioning 


  -Learning via consequence.

  -behaviours are modified by altering the consequences behaviours produce.

  -e.g. Skinner box investigated and developed his theories of punishment and reinforcement. Skinner manipulated consequences of rats behaviour and scientifically recorded if behaviour increased/decreased.
• Positive reinforcement 


  behaviour produces desirable consequence.
• Negative reinforcement 


  behaviour removes/prevents something undesirable.
• Positive punishment 


  behaviour produces undesirable consequence.
• Negative punishment 


  Behaviour produces consequence which removes something undesirable.
• Evaluating the behaviourist approach strengths 


  +Scientific methods: CC and OC theories developed in controlled lab conditions and standardised. Pavlov and Skinners theories could be replicated and has high control.

  +Supporting evidence: Watson and Rayner conditioned a fear response from little Albert. Supporting CC as an explanation of phobias.
• Strengths:

  +Practical applications: treats people with psychological disorders.

  • OC helped development of the token economy system which reinforces desirable behaviour. e.g. in prison tokens are given out to prisoners (secondary reinforcer) for good behaviour which can be exchanged for food or personal items (primary reinforcer).
  • CC: systematic desensitisation. Patients create hierarchy of least to most feared situations associated with phobic stimuli. Patient is taught relaxation methods which replaces fear which is counter conditioning.
• Evaluation of behaviourist approach: weaknesses

  -Deterministic view of behaviour: it assumes humans have no free will and behaviour is decided by environmental forces beyond conscious control. Underestimates how humans respond to a stimuli.

  -Reductionist: means for any behaviour it seeks to give the most simple explanation possible. Underestimates influence of the explanation.
• Weaknesses of behaviourist approach:

  -Indirect reinforcement: underestimates influence of direct experience. SLT highlights that humans can learn indirect/vicarious reinforcement.

  -Underestimates other influences: evidences from biological and cognitive approaches doesn't illustrate all behaviour is a result of conditioning and direct experience with environment.