1.3.3 Strengths And Weaknesses Of behaviourist Approach (Be)

Question 1

<p>What is strength 1 of the behaviourist approach</p>

Answer 1

<p>behaviourist approach is based on the study of observable measurable factors that influence behaviour</p>

Question 2

<p>What can happen to these factors? (S1)</p>

Answer 2

<p>They can be manipulated by the researcher allowing their influence on behaviour to be measured</p>

Question 3

<p>What can controlled experiments investigate? (S1)</p>

Answer 3

<p>Conditioning and behaviour </p>

Question 4

<p>Give an example of experiments into conditioning and behaviour? (S1) </p>

Answer 4

<p>Skinners box</p>

Question 5

<p>What did skinners box do?</p>

Answer 5

<p>Showed the effect of punishment and reinforcement on animal behaviour (operant conditioning)</p>

Question 6

<p>Give an example of positive reinforcement in skinners experiment:</p>

Answer 6

<p>Skinner provided the rat with food every time the lever was pressed which caused an increase in this behaviour </p>

Question 7

<p>Give an example of positive punishment in skinners experiment: (S1)</p>

Answer 7

<p>Skinner gave the rat an electric shock every time the lever was pressed, the rat stopped pressing the lever to remove the unpleasant thing</p>

Question 8

<p>Why is the fact that the behaviourist approach is based on the study of observable measurable factors that influence behaviour a strength? (Strength 1)</p>

Answer 8

<p>The control the researcher has in experiments allow for the research to be replicated</p>

Question 9

<p>(S1) If the findings are consistent... </p>

Answer 9

<p>...we have reliable evidence for behaviourist explanations </p>

Question 10

<p>(Strength 1) reliability in findings allows for what to be drawn?</p>

Answer 10

<p>A cause and effect relationship </p>

Question 11

<p>Give an example of a cause and effect relationship that could be drawn from skinners box: (strength 1)</p>

Answer 11

<p>Using positive reinforcement leads to an increase in the behaviour </p>

Question 12

<p>What is strength 2 of the behaviourist approach?</p>

Answer 12

<p>The behaviourist approach has led to many useful and successful applications</p>

Question 13

<p>Give an example of how the behaviourist approach had led to useful and successful applications: (strength 2)</p>

Answer 13

<p>Systematic desensitisation</p>

Question 14

<p>Briefly explain what happens in SD: (strength 2)</p>

Answer 14

<p>A client learns to associate a phone object with feelings of relaxation rather than fear by using relaxation techniques and working up hierarchy of anxiety provoking situations</p>

Question 15

<p>Why is useful and successful applications (strength 2) a strength?</p>

Answer 15

<p>It helps those with phobic disorders function in real life</p>

Question 16

<p>Give weakness 1 of the behaviourist approach:</p>

Answer 16

<p>It is reductionist </p>

Question 17

<p>What does it mean that he behaviourist approach is reductionist? (W1)</p>

Answer 17

<p>It reduces complex behaviours to a set of simple explanations and focuses on a narrow range if environmental factors to explain behaviour </p>

Question 18

<p>Give an example of the behaviourist approach being reductionist: (w1)</p>

Answer 18

<p>Phobias are reduced to learnt/conditioned behaviour </p>

Question 19

<p>Why is phobias being reduced to learnt/conditioned behaviour a weakness?</p>

Answer 19

<p>It says phobias are purely environmental meaning biological explanations for behaviour are ignored </p>

Question 20

<p>Give an example of a biological explanation for behaviour ignored in the behaviourist approach? (W1)</p>

Answer 20

<p>Phobias being the result of evolutionary influences such as a fear of snaked to avoid being bitten would increase survival chances in the EEA</p>

Question 21

<p>What is weakness 2 of the behaviourist approach?</p>

Answer 21

<p>It is deterministic</p>

Question 22

<p>What does it mean that the behaviourist approach is deterministic? (W2)</p>

Answer 22

<p>We do not have control over our actions
We respond passively to our environment
We have no free will</p>

Question 23

<p>Give an example of how the behaviourist approach is deterministic: (w2)</p>

Answer 23

<p>Assumption 1 says you are born a blank slate and as a result behaviour is learnt from interactions with the environment e.g a teenage boy shoeing aggressive behaviour due to being raised in and aggressive environment </p>

Question 24

<p>Why is the approach being deterministic a weakness?</p>

Answer 24

<p>It says we have no free will meaning unacceptable behaviour can be blamed on the environment </p>