Behavourist Approach Assumptions

Question 1

Assumption 1: humans are blank slates

Answer 1

Our mind is a ‘tabula rasa’ because we are a blank slate.
Our behaviour is learned from interactions with the environment; we do not think about our behaviour.
Nurture over nature.

Question 2

Assumption 2: behaviour is learned through conditioning (classical)

Answer 2

We learn through two types of conditioning: Classical (learned through association) and operant (learned through reinforcement and punishment)
E.g. Pavlov’s dogs- the salivation at the sight of food was the unconditioned response until they learnt the conditioned stimulus of the bell and the saliva being the conditioned response meant food was ready

Question 3

Assumption 3: humans and animals learn in a similar way

Answer 3

The principles by which animals and humans learn are the same.
Only difference is quantitative and structure in brain size.
We can generalisations about animal behaviour through animal studies
E.g. Lorenz found that geese follow the first moving thing they see - could be applied to human mother and child relationships

Question 4

Application of assumption 1( blank slate) to relationships

Answer 4

Mary Ainsworth explored the relationship between mother and child.
Child is born as blank slate and learns how to form a relationship from first relationship with primary caregiver.
The first relationship a child has acts as an internal model for all future relationships