Behaviourist approach- component 1 Flashcards
assumptions, relationship formation, therapies, classic evidence
Describe the assumption ‘humans are born like a blank slate’
- mind is a ‘tabula rasa’ when born (blank slate).
- not born with built in mental content (thinking and emotion do not drive behaviour)
- all behaviour learnt from interactions with environment (do not think about behaviour, but respond passively to environmental stimuli)
- supports nurture argument, not nature
- ignores factors such as genetics, physiology and evolution (nature) in explaining behaviour= environmental determinism (behaviour determined by environment we grew up in- associations made early on in life and early rewards/ punishments pre determine behaviour.
Describe the assumption of ‘behaviour learned through conditioning’ with examples
Classical:
- behaviour learned through association
- Pavlov’s dogs (1902):
BEFORE conditioning- food is UCS and salivation is UCR
DURING conditioning, bell sound given alongside UCS and this is repeated many times, so association occurs. Bell is NS.
AFTER conditioning, bell is CS, producing a new CR (salivation)
Operant:
- behaviour learned through reinforcement (increases chance of behaviour occurring again)
- B.F. Skinner (1938)- Skinner’s box showed animals can be positively reinforced with food to behave in certain ways. Animal presses lever in box that results in food pellet being given, so animal likely to repeat behaviour as it has been POSITIVELY reinforced.
- NEGATIVE reinforcement strengthens behaviour by individual escaping something unpleasant e.g. completing hw results in avoiding detention, so more likely to complete hw next time.
- behaviour learnt through PUNISHMENT (weakens behaviour and decreases likelihood of behaviour reoccurring e.g. if skinners rats received electric shock when lever pressed, less likely to press it again.
Describe the assumption ‘humans and animals learn in similar ways’
- laws of learning same for humans and animals
- can make generalisations about human behaviour based upon results from studies on animals
- results from Pavlov’s dogs study (showed dogs can be conditioned to salivate at bell sound) applied to humans
- e.g. in behaviourist therapies to overcome phobias, these principles applied such as in systematic desensitisation (SD) (client learns to associate phobic stimulus with feelings of relaxation)
- operant conditioning principles applied to humans to shape behaviour.
- e.g. TOKEN ECONOMY used in prisons and education. desirable behaviour reinforced with tokens that can be exchanged for rewards such as sweets and cigarettes
How can the assumption ‘behaviour learned through conditioning’ be applied to romantic relationships?
- Reinforcement models of attraction state we are more likely to form relationships with people who reinforce us.
- social exchange theory (SET) states that positive or negative feelings about relationship depend upon: 1. their perception of rewards and costs the relationship results in.
2. perception on what they deserve in relationship.
3. the probability they could have a relationship with someone else - costs= time, financial, emotional turmoil
- rewards= physical attraction, having someone who does things for us, financial gain, validated attitudes.
- SET states relationships formed with those who minimise costs and maximise rewards.
- emphasises humans learn to have relationships through reinforcement
How can the assumption ‘humans are born like a blank slate’ be applied to mother and child relationship
- Mary Ainsworth suggests child born with blank slate and learns how to form relationships from first relationship they have with primary caregiver.
- this relationship acts as internal model for all future relationships
- first relationship is secure and categorised by warmth= child forms secure, happy relationships
- first relationship insecure and categorised by rejection and confusion= child uses this as template and may form relationship with these negative aspects in future.
How can the assumption ‘humans and animals learn in similar ways’ be applied to mother and child relationships?
- Lorenz studied goslings to explore mother and child relationship
- split cluster of goose eggs in 2. Placed group 1 under mother goose and group 2 in incubator
- Lorenz ensured he was first thing group 2 saw when they hatched and when they did, he made mother goose quacking sound. Goslings regarded him as mother and followed him
- group 1 followed mother goose
- Lorenz found geese follow first moving object they see (imprinting)
- research shows findings from animal research can be applied to human mother and child relationships
How does the approach apply to therapy, systematic desensitisation (SD)?
- behaviourist approach assumes behaviour is conditioned
- classical conditioning means new behaviour learnt through association
- operant conditioning involves learning through reinforcement
- approach assumes abnormal behaviour caused by maladaptive faulty learning, e.g. someone with a phobia may become classically conditioned to associate fear with stimulus e.g. spiders
- avoidance of the stimulus acts as reinforcement as they feel calm when not around stimulus
- aim of SD is to break down faulty maladaptive learning and help person re learn a more functional response
- operant conditioning also used as person progresses through anxiety hierarchy and at each level feel increasingly relaxed in presence of feared stimulus- reinforcement
- this pos reinforcement encourages client to keep moving up hierarchy until they associate relaxation with feared stimulus.
Main components of SD
- therapist teaches client relaxation techniques so client can establish new stimulus-response link to feared object. Over time, client will respond to once feared object in relaxed state not with fear. The relaxation inhibits anxiety (RECIPROCAL INHIBITION)
- with help from therapist, client produces anxiety hierarchy, starting from least feared scenario to most feared, each level slightly more anxiety provoking. Traditionally conducted using in vivo desensitisation (confront object/situation associated with phobia in real life). Now more commonly, in vitro is used (object/situation associated with phobia only imagined.)
- client and therapist attempt to work way up hierarchy, at each stage using relaxation techniques. Cannot move to next stage until client demonstrates calm and relaxed response. complete when top of hierarchy reached and maladaptive response to phobia unlearnt and replaced with calm relaxed learnt response (reciprocal inhibition/ counter conditioning)
Evaluate the effectiveness of SD
- P- SD proven to be successful at treating specific phobias that are learnt problems.
E- Research into effectiveness was carried out by Rothbaum et al. (2000) who used systematic desensitisation to treat participants with a phobia of flying. Rothbaum compared participants with a phobia of flying who received SD against a control group who did not. The research found that following SD, 93% agreed to take a trial flight and had much lower levels of anxiety than the control group. These positive effects were found six months after treatment.
E- This evidence shows that SD is a very effective treatment for specific phobias, such as fear of flying. The effects are apparent immediately, as well as some time after therapy is completed.
L- This shows the effectiveness of the therapy at treating learnt specific phobias. SD can be useful as it can improve quality of life e.g. someone may need to fly due to work, so SD removes phobia so individual can continue job and be a productive member of society. - P- There is evidence to suggest that SD is not effective for all types of phobias, such as more generalised phobias (agoraphobia) or ancient phobias.
E- Martin Seligman (1970) argued that humans and animals genetically programmed to associate potential life threatening stimuli and fear. The stimuli are ancient fears, which are things that would be dangerous in evolutionary past (snakes, heights, strangers). It would have been adaptive to avoid stimuli. Explains why modern objects e.g. cars and toasters less likely to be feared than ancient fears as modern objects not a danger in evolutionary past.
E- This evidence illustrates that SD is NOT appropriate for ALL phobias and thus has some limitations in terms of effectiveness.
L- due to ineffectiveness, people with other fears cannot be treated with SD, such as agoraphobia or fear of death. These people left to find another treatment. - Symptom substitution. treats symptoms, not cause, so symptoms will resurface possibly in another form.
Evaluate the ethical issues of SD
- P- Valid consent is able to be given
E- Valid consent is obtained from the client before SD can begin. Clients usually seek help from a therapist for a specific phobia and as such are usually of ‘healthy mind’ (do not have schizophrenia/depression etc). They are therefore able to understand the process of SD and are able to give their valid consent to participate. The client is able to withdraw from the therapy at any point during the process (free will) and the introduction of relaxation techniques means clients rarely feel distress
E- therefore, client is happy with the process that will entail before they begin and is aware of any distress that may possibly arise.
L- This reinforces the fact that SD is ethical with regard to consent. In addition to this, SD is more ethical than other therapeutic approaches because of the equitable relationship between the therapist and the client. - P- therapy moves at client’s own pace
E- SD increases the individual’s feeling of control. The role of the therapist is to guide and help the client, but they do not play the central role in the therapy process. This is unlike other therapeutic approaches such as dream analysis.
E- if client does not want to move on, they do not have to, alleviating pressure and anxiety if they were forced to move to higher level in hierarchy
L- As a result, the risk of dependence on the therapist or attribution of success to the therapist is far lower, as the therapist is external to the therapy. This is therefore a more ethical approach to treatment. Furthermore, client is not emotionally/psychologically harmed as therapy moves at the pace they desire.
Evaluation of SD: Conclusion
In conclusion, it is clear to see from the evidence that SD is a very effective therapy for specific phobias, with very few of the side effects associated with other therapies. Ethically, it is sound and offers a safe way for clients to face their phobia and improve their lives. However, questions are raised regarding its universal application to all phobias, and indeed other mental illnesses. Furthermore, critics argue that SD does not address the root cause of the phobia. This limits its long-term success.
