The Behaviourist Perspective

Question 1

What are the 2 assumptions of the area?

Answer 1

1. Humans are born as a blank slate (tabula rasa)- behaviours are learnt through our environment
2. Behaviour is often determined by external factors like role models, stimuli and rewards/ punishments, and suggests we have no freewill, since it is learned from our environment

Question 2

What is classical conditioning?

Answer 2

• Measure behaviour through stimuli and response (unconditioned and conditioned)
• We learn through association

Unconditioned stimulus + conditioned stimulus = natural unconditioned response

Question 3

What is operant conditioning?

Answer 3

• The removal of a consequence or giving a reward- it’s more likely to be repeated
• The giving of a punishment- behaviour less likely to be repeated

Question 4

What is the social learning theory?

Answer 4

Observation of a role model leads to imitation of behaviour, leading to vicarious reinforcement

Question 5

Which two core studies can be used in this perspective?

Answer 5

• Bandura
• Chaney

Question 6

How can scientific approaches be argued as being a strength of the perspective?

Usefulness

Answer 6

Usefulness is increased as the findings are more convincing

Question 7

How can ethics be argued as a weakness of the perspective?

Answer 7

Research in the area can’t be repeated due to ethics- cannot check for reliability