Behaviourism- Evaluation (CC & OC)

Question 1

(+) Scientific methods

Answer 1

• Behaviourist psychologists use empirical methods that focus only on observable, measurable behaviours.
• Means research is objective and free from bias.
• Pavlov and Skinner both manipulated variables under controlled conditions, their methods of studying conditioning were both replicable and falsifiable.
• All of these features of the scientific method and so this approach has high levels of credibility.

Question 2

(+) Testable hypotheses

Answer 2

• Learning theories are based on testable hypothesis and lots of research has been carried out to establish meaningful cause and effect relationships; the principles of CC have been applied to phobias and offer a convincing explanation and this approach has led to the development of effective behavioural treatments (e.g. systematic desensitisation).
• The principles of operant conditioning have been applied widely, in schools, prisons and psychiatric hospitals to promote positive behaviours.

Question 3

Reductionist

Answer 3

• CC offers a simple explanation of behaviour, it reduces complex processes down to stimulus response links. This is a strength in that its assumptions are testable and falsifiable, but in terms of explaining human behaviour, this level of reductionism is a weakness.
• Skinner criticised CC for being too simplistic, but OC is also likely too basic for explaining most human behaviours. Humans are deep thinkers and it is highly unlikely that behaviour can be explained through associations or consequences alone.
• Learning theories might better explain animal behaviours because animal learning is simpler and affected more by instinct than processes like personal morals and expectations.

Question 4

Deterministic

Answer 4

• LT assume that behaviour is caused by interactions with the environment, this is a hard deterministic view that leaves no room for free will. A focus on finding a cause for behaviour is a feature of science that makes these theories testable and give them credibility, but it is not a view that is accepted by society.
• Our society assumes that we have conscious choice (free will) and we are held responsible and accountable for our behaviours, no matter what the situation we find ourselves in. This is an issue for the behaviourist approach because the deterministic assumptions are not applied in real life.
• A soft determinism approach is more popular in modern psychology, this would assume that environmental factors (like associations/ consequences) play a role in our behaviours, but ultimately, we have choice whether to act that way or not.

Question 5

Using animals for research (+)

Answer 5

• Behaviourists like Pavlov and Skinner used animals in their research because they assumed that animals and humans learn in the same way. They held this view because they did not place any importance on internal mental processing.
• Using animals in research is useful because it allows simple processes, like the influence of reinforcement, to be studied under controlled conditions, psychologists can control previous experiences and living conditions so that meaningful causal conclusions can be drawn with high levels of IV.

Question 6

Using animals in research (-)

Answer 6

• However, there are issues of extrapolation from animal studies. It cannot be assumed that animal responses will be the same as humans. Humans have more complex social influences on their behaviour and so it is unlikely that findings from Pavlov’s dogs or Skinner’s rats are representative and can be generalised to humans.
• Despite this, there is evidence to support the assumption that both humans and animals learn through conditioning.