Behaviourism AO3 Flashcards
Research - Research is scientific
A strength of the behaviourist approach is the use of scientific, empirical methods in research. Both Pavlov and Skinner use experimental methods which control conditions in an attempt to discover relationships between variables. This allowed Pavlov to accurately measure the effects of the stimulus on the dog’s behaviour (physical collection of saliva). Similarly Skinner could manipulate the consequences of behaviour e.g. giving a food pellet to see the effect on the rats behaviour e.g. pressing a lever. Thus allowing causal relationships to be established. This adds internal validity to the research and therefore validity to the Behaviourist approach
Use of animal research
Despite the highly controlled methods used by those advocating a behaviourist approach the explanations have received criticism because of the use of animals in research. Critics claim that the reliance of Pavlov on dogs and Skinner on rats and pigeons is problematic as they can tell us little about human behaviour. Unlike non-human animals, human beings have more complex cognitive processes, emotions and motivation. By researching on animals and treating human beings as a product of conditioning means that evidence for the role of cognition is ignored suggesting the behaviourist approach is insufficient in fully explaining human behaviour.
Exam Question advice you can be asked to evaluate Pavlov and Skinner’s research. While the two points above are evaluating the behaviourist approach itself, they can be used to do evaluate the individual research studies.
*** if you prefer you could always discuss the case of Little Albert as supporting research evidence of the behaviourist approach.
Issues / debates - Hard determinism (environmental)
The Behaviourist approach is an example of environmental determinism as it suggests all behaviour has a cause from the environment. This is a type of hard determinism as it suggests behaviour and characteristics are caused by experience (conditioning) and therefore Skinner suggested that free will is an illusion. This determinist point of view is not favored by many as it suggests individuals do not have choice over their behaviour. If we consider the develop of phobia’s, research by Di Nardo found that not everyone bitten by a dog develops a phobias of dogs, suggesting humans do have freewill or there must be an alternative explanation that behaviourists haven’t accounted for. The lack of consideration of freewill by the behaviourist approach reduces its ability to explain behaviour.
