Behaviourist Evaluation

Question 1

Is the behaviourist approach determinist?

Answer 1

Deterministic - we are born as a blank slate and our environment shapes us and we have no control over the environment

Question 2

Is determinism a strength or weakness in the behaviourist approach?

Answer 2

Weakness - removes personal responsibility if behaviour is pre-determined

Question 3

Is the behaviourist approach reductionist or holistic?

Answer 3

Reductionist - reduces complex human behaviour and does not consider complex biological factors and is too simplistic

Question 4

Is reductionism a strength or weakness in the behaviourist approach?

Answer 4

Weakness - over simplified and does not consider other factors

Question 5

Has the behaviourist approach been applied to any areas of society?

Answer 5

Behaviourist applied in many areas such as therapies like SD (systematic desensitisation) for the treatment of phobias and the use of parenting at home

Question 6

Are the applications of the behaviourist approach a strength or weakness?

Answer 6

Strength - benefits society in many areas

Question 7

Is the behaviourist approach idiographic or nomothetic?

Answer 7

Nomothetic -develops general laws regarding learning which are applied universally

Question 8

Is being nomothetic a strength or weakness in the behaviourist approach?

Answer 8

Strength - easily generalisable and can be considered scientific
Weakness - too vague and doesn’t consider individual difference

Question 9

Is the behaviourist approach nature or nurture?

Answer 9

Nurture - assumes all behaviour is learnt from birth

Question 10

Is taking the nature side of the debate a strength or weakness of the behaviourist approach?

Answer 10

Weakness - cannot fully explain human behaviour without considering biology as a factor

Question 11

Is the behaviourist approach scientific or unscientific?

Answer 11

Scientific - uses scientific methodology

Question 12

Is the behaviourist approach being scientific a strength or weakness?

Answer 12

Strength - adds credibility and supports the concept of the approach