behaviourist approach

• assumptions 


  introspection too vague and hard to measure

  • should be scientific and objective so only study observable behaviour not mental processes, use experimental method in lab control
  • born as blank slate, all behaviour learn from experience of events in envir, connections of event stimulus and behaviour response, learned through reinforce or punish
  • behaviour determined by enviro, controlled by forces rather than will of person
  • follows darwin so idea that processes of behavioir same in all specues so valid to use animal studies
• 2 forms of learning

  classical conditioning

  • association, Pavlovs dog NS bell UCS food UCR salivation, CS bell CR salivation

  operant conditioning

  • learned by consequences (say all 4 consequences and meaning)
  • BF skinners rats, in box with lever, pull lever and pellet of food = positive reinforcement, behaviour repeated
• strength 


  based on well controlled research

  • observsble behaviour in controlled lab setting
  • broke down behaviour into simple SR units, removing all other EV allowing causal relationship
  • EG skinner able to demonstrate how reinforcement shaped rats behaviour
  • scientific credibility
• counter limitation 


  reductionist

  • oversimplified learning process
  • reducing down to SR links ignores importance of human thought on learning as recognised in SLT and CA drawing attention to mental processes
  • learning more complex than observable behaviour
• strength


  RWA

  • principles applied, OC principle basis of token economy systems used successfully in institutions eg prison
  • reward appropriate behaviour with tokens exchanged for privileges
  • principles applied to treatment eg conditioning used in exposure therapy for phobia
  • value of approach
• limitation 


  environmental determinism

  • sees all behavuour as conditioned by past conditioning experiences
  • skinner - everything we do sum total of reinforcement history
  • ignored possible influence of free will on behaviour, skinner described as illusion
  • extreme position and ignores influence of conscious decision making