Behaviourist Perpective

Question 1

Behaviourist assumption

Answer 1

The majority of behaviour is learnt from the environment after birth. Believes behaviour can be explained in terms of nurture(learning from experience)

3 types

1. Classical conditioning-association to condition reflexes
2. Operant conditioning-reinforcement and punishment
3. Social Learning theory-neo behaviourism observe imitate and model.

Question 2

Behaviourist issues/debates

Answer 2

• nuture
• situational
• reductionist ignores cognitive processes (hypothetical construct)
• ethics
• psych as a science
• usefulness
• deterministic

Question 3

Behaviourist methods

Answer 3

(Labs)Experimental method
W+R
Bandura

(Pavlov skinner)

Question 4

Behaviourist studies

Answer 4

CC: pavlovs dogs, Watson and raynor little Albert(lab)

OC: skinner rats

SLT: Bandura (lab)

Question 5

Behaviourist strengths

Answer 5

1. Useful practical applications
   Skinner taught rats and pigeons to press leaver and receive treat OC- useful training guide dogs
2. Analytical quan data
   Bandura- how many children verbally and physically imitated aggressive role model, cause and effect comparison. SLT

Question 6

Behaviourist weaknesses

Answer 6

1. Relies on animal research
   Pavlovs dogs established CC. Less generalisable to people reduces pop validity and reliability
2. Ignores biological and other influences except environment
   Watson and raynor associates fear of noise with rat CC simplistic/ reductionist