Evaluation Flashcards
What are 3 strengths of the behaviourist approach?
Its a scientific aproach
Its focus on the here and now
Its sucessful applications
What are the 3 weaknesses of the behaviourist approach?
Its Emphasis on nurture
It is a determinist approach
It is more relevant to animals than humans
Why is the behaviourist approach being scientific a strength?
It seeks to study behaviour through observable and directly measurable concepts. This means that we can analyse , test and compare findings scientifically as they are usually conducted in a lab
What are the successful applications of the behaviourist approach?
Systematic desentisiation has been used to help people overcome severe phobias
Operant conditioning techniques such as positive reinforcement has been used in schools to help improve results and behaviour of students
Why is the Behaviourist approaches focus on the here and now a strength?
The approach focuses on the current-day situation of a patient , which means that it aims to treat undesirable behaviour such as phobias , this means that it is a direct approach which focuses on helping now rather then later
Why is the behaviourist approaches empahsis on nurture a weakness?
It ignores the importance of genetics and other factors such as emotions , instead it claims that conditions with a genetic element such as Schizophrenia are learned
Why is the behaviourist approach a deterministic approach?
It claims that all behaviour is learned meaning that we have no free will , which means that we have no control over our behaviour, it is decided by our environment
Why is the behaviourist approach being more relevant to animals than humans a weakness?
Most of the research began on animals , for example SD , which means that it may not always be applicable to humans
(e.g Wolpe 1973 - found that a women was scared of insects but SD did not work, her huaband was named after an insect and they had problems , which explained the fear of insects)
