The Behaviourist Approach - Blank Slate Flashcards
What does ‘humans are born like a blank slate’ mean?
all behaviour is LEARNED from the environment, nothing is inherited
- includes natural behaviour like breathing, but also mental illness
- no innate behaviours
- born neutral
What were behaviourists such as Watson like with the view that all behaviours are learned?
they were RADICAL in this view
What is radical behaviourism?
they are the most extreme in their beliefs about their theory
What type of strong view do Watson and other behaviourists take on the causes of behaviour?
Watson and other behaviourists take an extreme NURTURE view on the causes of behaviour
What do strict behaviourists believe?
believe that any person - regardless of genetic background, personality traits, and internal thoughts - can be trained to perform any task, within the limits of their physical capabilities
What is environmental determinism?
any person - regardless of genetic background, personality traits, and internal thoughts - can be trained to perform any task, within the limits of their physical capabilities
all it requires is the RIGHT ENVIRONMENT
What is Watson’s view a form of?
environmental determinism
What does environmental determinism state?
that all behaviour is cause beyond our control via environmental experiences
What does environmental determinism say about free will?
free will is an illusion and what we think is freely chosen behaviour is a product of previous learning experiences
What does behaviourism argue about aggression?
argues that traits such as aggression have no genetic basis
- ie aggression is not innate
What do behaviourists argue about children who are exposed to aggressive behaviours?
if children are exposed to aggressive behaviours via aggressive role models (either in their immediate environment or on the TV) then they will grow up to be aggressive
What do aggressive environmental experiences cause?
aggressive environmental experiences cause a person who was initially neutral to become aggressive
their behaviour is LEARNED
What is hard determinism?
behaviour is predictable and inevitable
