C1-Behaviourist Approach- Evaluation

Question 1

What is deterministic?(2)

Answer 1

• believes all behaviour is exclusively caused by association we make between certain enviornmental stimuli (CC) or rewards/punishment (OC). Suggest we have choice when we behave
• eg Seligman argues biological factors would play a role

Question 2

What is emphasis on nurture?(2)

Answer 2

• focuses on enviornment as shaping behaviour thus ignoring nature
• behaviourists wouldnt consider how our genetic make up could influence personality

Question 3

What is successful applications?(3)

Answer 3

• behaviourist principles have been successfully applied in real world eg education
• CC applied to aversion therapies and SD operant conditioning underlies successful teaching stratergies eg positive reinforcement and punishment helps shape behaviour in classrooms
• eg McAllister 1967 found use of inappropriate student and decreased this

Question 4

What is focus on here and now?(3)

Answer 4

• treatments of mental disorders dont have to look for complicated causes but focuses on current symptoms
• SD focuses on treating undesirable behaviour such as fear of social situations by teaching new stimulus
• success of therapies suggests that looking into deep meaning can worsen problems

Question 5

What is the reductionist view?(2)

Answer 5

• only considers behaviours and doesnt acknowledge thoughts and feelings
• Wolpe 1973 treated one women for fear of insects and found SD didnt cure her phobia

Question 6

What is scientific?(2)

Answer 6

• behaviourism continues to embody the truly scientific approach, seeking to study behaviour that is observable and directly measurable
• eg Albert study was controlled observation, fear was operationalised as body language, crying and movement is measurable