Behaviourist

• Assumptions

  • studies behaviour that can be observed and measured
  • relies on lab studies
  • two forms of learning - classical and operant conditioning
• Classical Conditioning

  • behaviour is learnt through association
  • Pavlovs dogs

  
• Operant Conditioning

  • behaviour learnt through consequences
  • Skinners rats
• Strengths of the behaviourist approach

  • well controlled research
  • real world application - rewards
• Limitations of the behaviourist approach

  • environmental determinism
  • ethical issues
  • oversimplified the learning processes