behaviourist approach

• assumptions

  • we are born as a 'blank slate' (Tabula Rasa)
  • behaviour is learned through the environment
  • interested in behaviour that can be observed or measured (empirical)
  • experimented on animals as they share the same principles of learning as humans
• classical conditioning

  Ivan Pavlov's dog experiments- tested learning through association

  
• operant conditioning

  • Skinner box- tested how the type of reinforcement or punishment given and rate of reinforcement or punishment given would affect the rate of learning (environment, behaviour and responses were controlled within the box)
  • positive reinforcement- rat pressed lever to receive food pellets
  • negative reinforcement- rat pressed lever to stop electric shock
• behaviourist approach- AO3

  • real life application (schools and treating mental illness)
  • uses scientific approach (increases credibility)
  • reductionist- ignores nature side of nature nurture debate
  • ignores cognitive factors (implies people can be manipulated easily)
  • use of animals is unethical and does not mirror the complexity of humans
  • lab studies lack ecological validity