Behaviourist Approach Evaluations Flashcards
Behaviourist Determinism…
Environmental determinism, claiming all behaviour is due to external factors.
Eg all behaviour thought to be a result of past learning, either through association or consequences of behaviour. Skinner argued free will is an illusion.
Therefore, behaviourism ignores the role of free will in human behaviour. This is an issue as it means individuals may not feel responsible for their actions or that they have the power to change their behaviours. It raises some important questions for the legal system if free will doesn’t exist. (Should we hold people accountable for their actions if they didn’t have free will?)
Behaviourist Reductionist…
Behaviourist approach is arguably reductionist, attempting to reduce human behaviour down t just one level of explanation.
Behaviourism attempts to reduce all aspects of human behaviour down to just one level of explanation. Eg the behaviourist approach reduced complex behaviours down to learning through our environment through association and rewards and punishments (nurture).
Therefore, the behaviourist approach may be viewed as overly simplistic and not taking a holistic approach to explaining human behaviour. The biological approach would criticise the behaviourist approach for failing to acknowledge the role of nature in explaining human behaviour.
Behaviourist Practical applications…
Behaviourist approach has had many useful practical (real world) applications.
Classical conditioning has led to the development of treatments of phobias (systematic desensitisation) where we learn to associate relaxation with the feared object/stimulus. Operant conditioning forms the basis of token economy programmes that is used to successfully shape behaviour in prisons.
Therefore, classical and operant conditioning have benefitted society. Moreover, these real world applications have economic implications. For example, if we can develop a more effective treatment for psychological health problems (such as phobias) then more people can return to work. This reduced the burden on employers, the NHS and taxpayer.
Behaviourist Scientific credibility…
The behaviourist approach uses scientific and objective methods of research.
Behaviourism introduced scientific methods into psychology. Lab experiments were used with high control over EVs. These experiments were replicable and all data obtained was objective.
This means that we could can be argued that behaviourism is a scientific discipline, giving it greater credibility and status within psychology.
