pure evaluation :( Flashcards
Explain the strength of the Behaviourist Approach that there is real-world applications
-Operant conditioning has real-world applications in settings such as prisons and psychiatric wards.
-Operant conditioning is used for token economy, in which is a prisoner etc shows good behaviour, then they receive a token which can be exchanged for certain privileges.
-This is an example of positive reinforcement.
Explain the limitation of the Behaviourist Approach that experiments may be seen as unethical.
-For example, Little Albert, (who was conditioned to have a phobia of mice and other similar things such as cotton wool) was never de-conditioned which could have caused severe psychological harm especially as he grew up.
-Another example is how Skinner’s pigeons were also kept underfed and below weight. This shows failure to protect subjects from physical harm, and could have caused the pigeons severe problems.
What are the strengths of the behaviourist approach?
-real world applications
-based on well-controlled/ reliable research
What are the limitations of the behaviourist approach?
-unethical experiments
-oversimplified learning process
Explain the limitation that the behaviourist approach may have oversimplified the learning process
-By reducing behaviour to such simple components, behaviourists may have ignored an important influence on learning - that of human thought.
-Other approaches, such as social learning theory and the cognitive approach have drawn attention to the mental processes involved in learning.
-This suggests that learning is more complex than observable behaviour alone, and that private mental processes are also essential.
Explain the strength of the Behaviourist Approach that it is based on well controlled research.
-Behaviourists focused on the measurement of observable behaviour within highly controlled lab settings.
-By breaking down behaviour into basic stimulus-response, all other possible extraneous variables were removed, allowing cause-and-effect relationships to be established.
-For instance, Skinner was able to clearly demonstrate how reinforcement influenced an animal’s behaviour.
-This suggests that behaviourist experiments have scientific credibility.
What is research support for Social Learning Theory?
-Bandura’s Bobo Doll experiment
What are the strengths of SLT?
- research support
-considered the role of cognitive factors
SLT Limitations?
-ignores role of biological factors
-counterpoint for research support
Explain the strength of SLT that it considered the role of cognitive factors
-SLT acknowledges the role of mediation which suggests that to learn, we must pay attention to the behaviour, we must retain it/ remember it, reproduce it, and have the right motivation to do so.
-This suggests that humans have free will and that humans weigh up the ‘pros and cons’ of an action before imitating the behaviour.
-Therefore, SLT provides a more detailed explanation of behaviour in comparison to classical and operant conditioning, because rather than learning being a result of a stimulus response, SLT considers that we have free will and analyse behaviour before copying it.
Explain the limitation of SLT that it ignores biological factors
-For example Bandura’s research consistently found that boys displayed more aggression than girls
-This cannot be explained by SLT alone.
-This could be explained by boys having an increased level of testosterone, which is not considered by Bandura.
-It could also be explained by mirror neurons in the brain, which allow us to empathise with and imitate others.
-This suggests that biological influences on learning were under-emphasised in the approach
Explain the counterpoint for the research support for Social Learning Theory
-Bobo Doll experiment lacks internal validity
-Demand characteristics may have been shown
-This is due to the fact that the Bobo Doll was meant to be played with aggressively
-This means that a strong direct cause and effect link cannot be established, because children may have acted aggressively to the doll because that was how it was meant to be played with, rather than because they were imitating adults.
Explain the Procedures for Bandura’s Bobo Doll Experiment?
-Bandura’s Bobo Doll experiment
-Bandura recorded the behaviour of young children who had watched an adult be aggressive towards the doll
- The doll was hit with hammers and had abuse shouted it
-He compared this with the behaviour of children who had not witnessed an adult be aggressive towards the doll
-He found that those that had aggressive behaviour were far more likely to be aggressive with the doll than those that hadn’t
What are the strengths of the cognitive approach?
-Has many applications
-Scientific- use of models
What are the weaknesses of the cognitive approach?
-use of computer models
-Ignores important factors
