Behaviourist Approach Evaluation

Question 1

Describe paragraph for Scientific Credibility. Strength (4)

Answer 1

1) Behaviourism has scientific credibility
2) Brought languages and methods of the natural sciences to psychology and focused on measurement of observable behaviour
3) Research was objective and could be replicated
4) This was very influential in the development of psychology as a scientific discipline

Question 2

Describe paragraph for Real Life Application. Strength (4)

Answer 2

1) Approach has real life application
2) Token economy systems has been successfully used in prisons to modify prisoner behaviour
3) Rewarding appropriate behaviour can change behaviour through operant conditioning
4) Treatments like this have an advantage - less effort from patients

Question 3

Describe paragraph for Psychological Problems. Strength (4)

Answer 3

1) Can be used to explain how certain psychological problems develop
2) Two-process model which suggests that phobias are learned through classical conditioning and maintained through operant conditioning
3) Conditioning is a valid explanation of how phobias develop
4) Phobias can be treated by unlearning their phobia

Question 4

Describe paragraph for Deterministic. Limitation (4)

Answer 4

1) Highly deterministic
2) All actions are determined by past experiences that have been conditioned
3) Ignores any possible influence that free will may have on behaviour
4) Problematic - suggests people aren’t responsible for their own behaviour

Question 5

Describe paragraph for Ethical Issues. Limitation. (4)

Answer 5

1) Ethical issues with using animals in research
2) Skinner exposed animals to stressful and adverse conditions by giving them shocks
3) Goes against BPS as not protecting animals from harm
4) Harm may not be necessary as we can’t generalise findings from animals to humans