Behaviourist - Main components Flashcards
What are the three theories of the behaviourist approach?
Humans are born as a blank slate
Humans and Animals learn the same
Conditioning
Describe the theory of ‘Humans are born as a blank slate’ + example
One assumption of the behaviourist approach is that humans are born as a blank slate. A term for this often used by psychologists is tabula rasa. This means all our behaviour is learnt by other influences in our life and not determined by biological factors / nature. This approach links directly with Nurture
According to the behaviourist approach all behaviour can be understood in terms of environmental learning. All behaviour is environmentally determined meaning behaviour is the result of external factors and not evolution or genetics.
This assumption also states we do not actively think about our behaviour but instead we respond to stimuli within our environment.
Example: If a child has grown up being surrounded by criminal behaviour they are likely to observe this behaviour and imitate it in the future. This is known as observational learning. Criminal behaviour can also be learnt through positive reinforcement an individual receives from their environment. For instance if a member of a gang commits a robbery. Their peers may reward them with praise and encouragement and consequently they are likely to then repeat that behaviour in the future. The approach also explains why individuals do not commit a crime as to avoid the punishment of prison.
Describe classical and operant conditioning
Classical conditioning is the process of associating two things together to give the same response to both that wasn’t previously there.
The most famous example and the experiment behind this study initially is Pavlov’s dogs
Operant conditioning has 3 different aspects to it. The term reinforcement refers to something that will increase the likelihood of that behaviour occurring again. Reinforcement can be a positive or a negative.
1) Positive reinforcement – This is where when someone does something good they are immediately rewarded. For example. When they do their homework they get a chocolate bar is an example of positive reinforcement.
2) Negative reinforcement – This is where a behaviour will be repeated for the intention of avoiding a specific punishment. Doing their homework to avoid being shouted at by their teacher
3) Punishment – This is used to deter behaviour from being repeated in the future.
Describe the assumption of ‘humans and animals learn the same’
Behaviourists believe that the only difference between animals and humans is quantitative and regards structure such as brain size. As a result, findings from animal studies can be applied to predict and make generalisations about human behaviour. For example, Pavlov used dogs to develop the concept of classical conditionin.
Seligman expanded on this showing how Dogs (like humans) will often accept defeat rather than trying to escape their situation. (electric shock study)
Explain the relationship formation of Behaviourist approach?
Ainsworth suggests that the child is born as a blank slate and ‘learns’ how to form relationships from the first relationship the infant has with their primary caregiver. It is suggested that the first relationship the infant has acts as an internal model for all future relationships aka a template that the child will follow.
For example: If the first relationship of a child is secure and characterised by warmth, then the child will form secure, happy relationships moving forward. However, if the relationship is insecure and characterised by rejection and confusion, then the child will use this as their template moving forward. This research clearly shows that relationship formation is learned.
What are the evaluative points of the behaviourist approach?
Strengths:
Scientific (watson and rayner)
Application (watson and rayner into SD)
Weaknesses:
Reductionist
Determinism (blank slate)
Name a strength of the behaviourist approach to do with science.
A strength of the behaviourist approach is that it conducts scientific objective research.
The behaviourist approach only focuses on behaviour that can be observed, manipulated (changed) and objectively measured.
For example, Watson and Rayners research into conditioned emotional responses using a controlled observation. This is a strength because controlled observations have standardised procedures. Research conducted in a laboratory setting is highly controlled making replication easier, increasing the internal and external reliability of the findings.
Name a strength of the behaviourist approach to do with application
Another strength of the behaviourist approach is that it has very successful therapeutic applications.
For example, Watson and Rayner’s research demonstrated that phobias are learnt through classical conditioning. This concept has been applied to therapies such as systematic desensitisation which is based on the principles of classical conditioning.
The aim of systematic desensitisation is to extinguish maladaptive behaviours (phobias & other anxiety disorders) through counterconditioning so that the client becomes deconditioned to their phobia. This is a strength because CD has an 80-90% success rate, replacing maladaptive behaviours with new learnt adaptive behaviours. It is also a short-term therapy with the client only needing around 12-30 sessions to see the results of the therapy.
Name one weaknesses of the behaviourist approach to do with reductionism
A weakness of the behaviourist approach is that it is a reductionist approach. The behaviourist approach reduces complex behaviours to a set of simple explanations.
For example, the behaviourist approach suggests that phobias are only learned through conditioning. This is a weakness because the behaviourist approach does not address the underlying cause of phobias. A person’s medical history should be taken into consideration as there may be biological explanations for behaviour.
Behaviourist therapy may change the client’s behaviour, but it won’t be addressing the underlying cause of the anxiety. Such a simplified explanation may prevent a true understanding of the cause of anxiety and the irrational behaviour may come back.
Role of Evolution
Name one weaknesses of the behaviourist approach to do with Determinism
The behaviourist approach is firmly on the deterministic side of the free will versus determinism debate. It says that we are born as a completely blank slate and the environment shapes us (environmental determinism). As children, we have little / no control over the environment. The behaviourist approach acknowledges a very small contribution from free will, e.g. we are able to shape / choose our environment at times BUT this is very limited.
This validates the idea that we have no personal or moral responsibility for our behaviour and leads to a ‘blame culture’, for example aggression – an individual may display aggressive behaviour and blame the environment (aggressive role models, being positively reinforced for their aggressive behavior, etc.) rather than seeing the behaviour as something they are responsible for.
On the other hand, by recognising the role of determinism in behaviour, we know what factors have pre-determined a behaviour, such as a person’s phobia
