Behaviourist Perspective Flashcards
Key assumption to behaviourist perspective?
A majority of behaviour is learned from the environment after birth.
Key implication of behavioirist perspective?
Since all behaviour is learned, we can treat psychological disorders by teaching people new behaviours.
One strength of the behaviourist perspective?
It is useful, it has many practical applications like training animal trainers and treating psychological disorders. For example, in skinners study, operant conditioning is used to reward good behaviour. However, other factors influence behaviour, not just punishments and rewards.
One strength of the behaviourist perspective?
Tends to use scientific and controlled experiments, this allows a cause and effect relationship to be established. For example, in banduras study, children were matched on aggression and all tests were standardised. Therefore, studies in the behaviourist perspective are usually high in reliability.v
One weakness of the behaviourist perspective?
Criticised for being reductionist, the behaviourist perspective considers only learning as a factor of behaviour, not cognitive or social factors. For example, in banduras study where the social learning theory is the only explanation for aggressive behaviour. However, behaviour could be caused by other factors like testosterone.
One weakness of the behaviourist perspective?
It relies on laboratory experiments, it lacks ecological validity meaning behaviour may not be natural. For example, research in banduras study is done in controlled environments usind a bobo doll. Therefore, research may not generalise well.
Three main studies to behaviourist perspective?
Watson & raynor: classical conditioning
Bandura: social learning theory
Skinner: operant conditioning
