learning approach (behaviorism)

Question 1

weakness: environmental determinism

Answer 1

approach states that behavior controlled by external factors, learning through stimulus response and association, or being rewarded, inevitably cause behavior, neglects role of free will, feel like they have no control over their behavior, limits appropriateness as explanation

Question 2

strength: practical applications

Answer 2

principles of theory that behavior caused by classical conditioning, led to systematic desensitization, effective at treating phobias, helps individual unlearn maladaptive association, important part of applied psych, helps treat people in real world

Question 3

weakness: environmental reductionism

Answer 3

reduces complex human behavior down to simple basic units, learning through stimulus, response, association or rewards, neglects holistic approach, how a person’s culture and social context influence their behavior, may lack validity, can’t understand behavior in context

Question 4

strength: scientific methods

Answer 4

lab experiments, scientific enquiry to investigate human behavior, PAVLOV controlled environment & objective and empirical techniques, measured amount of saliva dogs produced, increases internal validity of behaviorist approach, raises psych scientific status