Behaviourist Approach

Question 0

Describe the distinguishing feature of the behaviourist approach – theories

Answer 0

 Classical conditioning – learning by association

 Operant conditioning – learning by consequences

Question 1

Describe the key assumptions of the behaviourist approach

Answer 1

 All behaviour is learned from the experiences in the environment
 We are born as a blank state
 Psychology should be scientific and objective
 Only valid material to study is behaviour
 Valid to generalise from animal behaviour to human behaviour

Question 2

What are the strengths of the behaviourist approach?

Answer 2

• Uses highly controlled scientific methods
• Enables the prediction of behaviour
• Has lead to development of many therapies

Question 3

What are the weaknesses of the behaviourist approach?

Answer 3

• Reject role of the biological factors
• Ignores mental processes and emotions
• Behaviour seen as determined by the environment – no free will
• Not sensible to generalise from animal research to human behaviour
• Oversimplification – sees behaviour in terms of Stimulus-response links

Question 4

Describe and evaluate the research methods used in behaviourist approach

Answer 4

Lab experiments
 Takes place in a controlled environment/conditions
 Independent variable manipulated by the researcher

Evaluation
 Control – gives greater opportunity to control variable
 Establish cause and effect relationship
 Easy to replicate
 Use of specialised equipment
 Objective measurements
- Demand characteristics
- Investigator effects
- Ecological validity

Question 5

Describe a study from this approach – little Albert

Answer 5

Aim – To investigate whether an emotional response such as fear could be conditioned in a human being

Method- Little Albert was 11 months old when the experiment was conducted. In the experiment Watson presented a white rat in front of Albert. When he reached for the rat, Watson would strike a metal bar with a hammer creating a loud noise. Numbers of trials were carried out.

Result – Watson found that when the rat was presented alone to Albert, he immediately became frightened and showed an attempt to move away.

Conclusion – Watson and Rayner successfully demonstrated that behaviour is learnt and that phobia of rats could be conditioned in a baby.