behaviourist perspective Flashcards
What is the behaviourist perspective?
Behaviourism is a theory of learning that states all behaviours are learned through conditioned interaction with the environment.
What are the 3 assumptions of the behaviourist perspective?
1- the proper subject matter of psychology is observable behaviour
2- we are products of our environment
3- we acquire behaviour through learning
What are the two core studies that link to the behaviourist perspective?
Bandura and Chaney (developmental)
What are the 3 types of learning?
1- operant conditioning
2- classical conditioning
3- observational learning
What is classical conditioning?
learning to associate a stimulus that already triggers a response to another stimulus
What is operant conditioning?
learning by consequences of our actions - rewards and punishments
What is observational learning?
when an observer imitates behaviour modelled by another individual (role model)
What are the strengths of this perspective?
- scientific
- practical applications
What are the weaknesses of this perspective?
- reductionist
- raises ethical issues
