Evaluation of the behaviourist approach

Question 1

What is a strength of the approach being scientific?

Answer 1

The methods seek to be as objective as possible and so focus on behaviour that can be measured and observed rather than internal ‘mental’ processes

Question 2

What is a weakness of the approach being scientific?

Answer 2

Many important behaviours (e.g. memory) are not observable or measurable in the ways that the approach expects

Question 3

What is a strength of the approach being reductionist

Answer 3

Studies have demonstrated that humans can learn via conditioning and the principles have useful applications

Question 4

What is a weakness of the approach being reductionist?

Answer 4

Behaviour is explained by reducing it to simple conditioning processes. It underestimates the complexity of our behaviour

Question 5

What is a strength of the approach relying on research with animals?

Answer 5

Research supports the idea that humans and animals learn by conditioning. This allows researchers to study animals when, ethically, they might not be able to study humans

Question 6

What is a weakness of the approach relying on research with animals?

Answer 6

Humans have complex thoughts and feelings far beyond any other animal, and these have a major effect on behaviour. It underestimates the complexity of human behaviour

Question 7

What is a strength of humans learning in similar ways to animals?

Answer 7

Classical and operant conditioning has been shown to work in humans as well as animals.

Question 8

What is a weakness of humans learning in similar ways to animals?

Answer 8

Classical and operant conditioning can only explain some relatively simple aspects of human learning