Assumptions of the behavourist approach

Question 1

What is assumption 1?

Answer 1

Blank slate : Tabula Rasa
- We are all born neutral with no inherent personality
- The environment shapes us
- Newborns have basic drives e.g hunger and pleasure
- All behavior comes from an individuals interactions with their environment
- Human behavior should be studied scientifically

Question 2

What is assumption 2?

Answer 2

Humans and animals learn in similar ways
- Theory of evolution establishes that humans and animals have similar origins
- No real difference in the way animals learn + the way humans learn
- Both humans and animals are products of their environment and that behavior is determined by stimulus response relationships

Question 3

What is a consequence of assumption 2?

Answer 3

We can investigate the effect of conditioning on animals and easily apply the results to humans.
Generalize from animals to humans