Behaviourism Flashcards
What can the behaviourist explanation be criticised for?
Environmental determinism
Why does the behaviourist approach have environmental determinism?
Because the approach states that an individual is controlled by external factors such as learning through stimulus, response and association or being rewarded for a behaviour that inevitably cause behaviour (attachment and learning theory example).
What does environmental determinism neglect?
It neglects the role of free will and the choice that individuals have, leaving individuals feeling like they have no control over their behaviour, limiting the approach
What is a strength of the behaviourist approach?
Practical applications
Why does it have practical application?
Because the principles of the theory, that behaviour is caused by classical conditioning has led to the treatment of systematic desensitisation.
What is systematic desensitisation effective in?
It is effective in treating phobias by helping the individuals to unlearn their maladaptive association to a phobic stimulus by gradually exposing them to their phobia whilst they apply relaxation techniques.
What is the behaviourist approach an important part of?
Applied psychology as it helps to treat people in the real world - link to economy
What else can the behaviourist approach be criticised for?
Environmental reductionism
Why is it criticised for environmental reductionism?
Because the approach reduces complex human behaviour down to simple basic unit, for example learning through stimulus, response and association - link to attachment
What does environmental reductionism neglect?
It neglects a holistic approach which would take into account how a person’s culture and social context would influence and explain human behaviour.
What does environmental reductionism lead to the behaviourist approach lacking?
It may lack validity as it does not allow us to understand behaviour in context.
What methods are used in the behaviourist approach?
Scientific methods such as lab experiments to investigate human behaviour
What researcher used scientific methods?
Pavlov used objective and empirical methods such as measuring the amount of saliva the dogs produced during conditioning.
What does scientific methods increase?
This increases the overall internal validity of the behaviourist explanation, raising Psychology’s scientific status
What bias can this approach be criticised for?
Animal bias
