Behaviourism - ao1

Question 1

AO1

Question 2

Point 1: Strength

Answer 2

Scientific Credibility
- Behaviourist was able to bring methods of natural science into psychology. Focusing on measurement of observable behaviour in highly controlled settings.
- Emphasising the importance of scientific processes eg. objectivity and replication
- Influential in development of psychology as scientific discipline, giving greater credibility + status

Question 3

Point 2: Strength

Answer 3

Real Life Application
- Principles of conditioning have been applied to a broad range of real world behaviours + problems. For example, operant conditioning is the basis of token economy system. (prisons or psychiatric wards)
- These work by rewarding appropriate behaviour with tokens that can be exchanged for privileges.
- Classical conditioning has been applied to the treatment of phobias. These treatments require less effort from patients, this is suitable for those who lack insight.

Question 4

Point 3: Weakness

Answer 4

Mechanistic view of behaviour
- Animals are seen as passive and machine like responders (including humans) with no consciousness or little. Other approaches, eg. SLT + cog emphasised the importance of mental events during learning. These mediate between stimulus and response. (Suggests ppl play an active role in learning) This means that learning theory may apply less to human than to animal behaviour.

Question 5

Point 4: Weakness * Can also state ethical issues

Answer 5

Environmental determinism
- Behaviourist approach sees all behaviour as determined by past experiences that have been conditioned.
- Skinner suggested that everything we do is the sum total of our reinforcement history, ignores free will. - When something happens we impose a sense of making a decision but according to sinner, out past conditioning history determined the outcome.