Behaviourist Approach- Evaluation

Question 1

Strengths

Answer 1

Scientific= uses scientific methods of research because the experiments are objective and measurable. -Experiments-evidence-treatment.

• Focuses on the here and now= Not concerned with events from a person’s past. The success of behavioural therapies is not focusing on deep meanings of where such behaviour has come from but instead removing the symptom of behaviour.
• Treatment for mental disorders focuses on current observable symptoms.
• Successful applications= Classical conditioning has been used within therapy to help with addiction and phobias. Operant conditioning has been widely used within schools for the use of positive reinforcement and punishment.

Question 2

Weaknesses

Answer 2

• Emphasis on nurture= Nature is ignored over exaggerated. The role of nurture is determined by personal behaviour and fails to take into account internal factors such as motivation emotion and innate abilities.
• Deterministic= Behaviour is the result of association and punishment therefore people are controlled by external factors. Deterministic viewpoint ignores free will. People cannot make choices and have no personal or moral responsibility for their behaviour
• More relevant to animals= SD Therapy was initially research on animals created a phobia in cats by placing them in cages and giving them shocks (Wolpe 1958). Human anxiety may not respond to the same way as animals.