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 increases to avoid negative stimulus

Punishment = Behaviour punished so behaviour stopped

Skinner’s Rats-
Press lever = Food
Stop electric shock = 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

All behaviour learned through stimulus response relationships

Skinners Rats operant conditioning applied in behaviourist therapies

E.g. Token economies in schools