Behaviourist Assumptions

Question 1

Humans born like a blank slate (tabula rasa)

Answer 1

Minds are born as a ‘blank slate’

Behaviour learned from environmental interaction (Nurture OVER nature)

Environmental Determinism - Early associations shape later reactions to situations

E.g. Dentists = Pain

Question 2

Behaviour learned through conditioning

Answer 2

Classical Conditioning - Association

Pavlov’s Dogs -
UCS + UCR + NS = CS + CR

Operant Conditioning - Reinforcement

Positive reinforcement = Behaviour rewarded so behaviour repeated

Negative reinforcement = Behaviour punished so behaviour stopped

Skinner’s Rats-
Press lever = Food
Electric shock = No food

Question 3

Humans and animals learn in similar ways

Answer 3

Able to study animal learning in labs then make generalisations about how humans learn

Pavlovs dogs conditioning applied in behaviourist therapies

E.g. Helping overcome phobias in systematic desensitisation

Systematic desensitisation- Listing fears and exposing self to them to overcome