The Behaviourist Approach
- The behaviourist approach proposes that:
- Everyone is born as a 'blank slate' which life writes upon (Watson, 1930)
- All behaviour is learned from the environment e.g. upbringing, neighbourhood, peers, education
- Behaviour can be understood using a stimulus-response approach
- Reinforcement is key in terms of whether a behaviour will be repeated or not
- Only observable behaviours can be measured and investigated (which rules out the study of memory, for example)
- Using lab-based, scientific methods is the best way to study behaviour
- Animal research may be used as a basis for understanding human behaviour
- Repeated behaviours become internalised and automatic e.g. hearing the bell ring for the end of lesson triggers packing away and moving to the next lesson without any real thought involved
- Classical conditioning and operant conditioning underpin the principles of behaviourism
| Exam tip: Make sure that you understand the difference between classical conditioning and operant conditioning as each type of conditioning is distinct. |
- Research which uses the behaviourist approach includes:
- Pavlov's use of dogs to explore the mechanisms of classical conditioning (see the next revision note)
- Skinner's use of rats and other animals to explore the mechanisms of operant conditioning (see the next revision note)
Evaluation of the behaviourist approach
Strengths
- The use of scientific methods means that research into behaviourism has good reliability
- Behaviourism takes a nomothetic approach which is a strength as it seeks to establish general laws of behaviour which can be applied universally
Weaknesses
- The behaviourist approach is overly simplistic, offering a reductionist view of behaviour which ignores key factors such as personality, cognition, culture
- Scientific methodology is not necessarily the best way to study human behaviour: humans are more nuanced and sophisticated than a single quantitative finding may suggest
|
WORKED EXAMPLE Discuss one or more differences between the Behaviourist Approach and one other approach in Psychology. [8] AO1 = 3, AO3 = 5 For 6-8 marks the answer should clearly and concisely outline the Behaviourist Approach (BA), using a good level of detail. Effective use of examples should be given to support the points made. There should be confident use of terminology. Differences between the BA and another approach should be clear, relevant and give details, example and expansion of points made. For 4-6 marks the answer should give a somewhat detailed outline of the BA although here may be some lack of expansion or development of ideas. There should be some use of terminology. Differences with another approach will be present and meaningful to some extent but may lack depth or range. For 1-3 marks the answer will be only partially successful in outlining the BA. Terminology will be sparse and there may be some vagueness or ambiguity to the response. Differences to another approach are likely to be sparse or lacking in substance or conclusiveness. Possible AO1 answer content could include:
Possible AO3 answer content could include:
|
