Behaviourist Perspective

Question 1

Principles of behaviourist perspective

Answer 1

A person is like a blank slate at birth, a tabula rasa, and all behaviour is acquired through conditioning

Question 2

What is classical conditioning

Answer 2

This is learned by association

Pavlov demonstrated this in his famous experiment with dogs

Question 3

What is operant conditioning

Answer 3

This is learned through the consequences of actions
Positive reinforcement
Negative reinforcement
Punishment

Question 4

What is the social learning theory

Answer 4

People learn new behaviour through observational learning of the social factors in their environment

Question 5

What is modelling

Answer 5

Modelling involves learning through observation of other people, which may lead to imitation of behaviour

Question 6

Behaviourist perspective strengths

Answer 6

It focuses on observable and measurable behaviour. More objective
It has useful practical applications on how to influence people’s behaviour
Research methods are more scientific, easy to replicate and test objectively
Studies are carried out in highly controlled conditions which help to prove cause and effect

Question 7

Behaviourist perspective weaknesses

Answer 7

Ethical concerns- it can be seen as manipulative
It is determinist - assuming all behaviour is determined by the environment, no free will
Reductionist - it ignores other mental processes which are important influences in behaviour, it doesn’t take innate factors into account