Behaviourism Perspective

Question 1

Give an Overview of the Behaviourism Perspective.

Answer 1

• assumes we are born a blank slate or ‘tabula rasa’
• argues experience + interaction w/ environment shape our behaviour
• common research methods used: lab experiments w/ high control
• two main learning theories proposed: classical conditioning + operant conditioning

Question 2

Describe the assumptions of the behaviourism perspective.

Answer 2

• much of behaviour is governed / shaped by situation we are in
• all behaviour is learnt from environment + biological factors are insignificant in influencing how people behave
• only observable behaviour is worthy of investigation + should be investigated using scientific methodology

Question 3

Describe classical conditioning.

Answer 3

• proposes we learn through association
• discovered by Pavlov in his experiment w/ dogs - eventually associated bell w/ food, so salivated at bell sound alone
• involves learning a new behaviour via process of association, so two stimuli are linked together to produce a new learned response

Question 4

Describe operant condition.

Answer 4

• proposes we learn through consequence
• works on assumption of learning through reward + punishment
• theory developed by Skinner when made ‘Skinner box’ w/ rats learning to associate pressing a lever for reward of food, so this consequence / reward caused them to repeat this behaviour
• behaviour positively reinforced tends to be repeated, but negatively reinforced behaviour normally then avoided

Question 5

Describe the social learning theory.

Answer 5

• an extension of behaviourism developed by Bandura
• idea argues that we learn through observation + imitation
• much behaviour (e.g. agression) is learnt through environment by observing role models + imitating their behaviour if leads to a desirable outcome
• unlike behaviourist views, Bandura did acknowledge cognitive processes in contributing to behaviour

Question 6

Describe behaviourism in the Nature vs Nurture debate, and link this to a study.

Answer 6

• behaviourism argues people are a product of their own environment + all behaviour is learned
• so supports nurture side of nature vs nurture debate

E.g. Bandura

Question 7

Describe behaviourism in the Individual vs Situational debate, and link this to a study.

Answer 7

• behaviourism supports situational side of debate

E.g. Bandura found children imitated more physical acts of aggression when exposed to aggressive role model, so due to situation + not dispositional factors, as Bandura controlled for pre existing levels of aggression by rating children on it prior to study, allocating them to diff groups w/ similar pps

Question 8

Describe behaviourism in the Reductionism vs Holism debate, and link this to a study.

Answer 8

• behaviourism = reductionistic as assumes behaviour + experiences can be explained by looking at how individuals learn through classical / operant conditioning + observational learning, so ignoring role of individual

E.g. Chaney concluded children who used Funhaler showed improved medical compliance due to positive reinforcement features, but other factors could have led to improved adherence e.g. severity of asthma / routine of parents / personality traits of children / parents

Question 9

Describe behaviourism in the Determinism vs Free Will debate, and link this to a study.

Answer 9

• behaviourism = deterministic as assumes behaviour = pre-determined by environment, this is environmental determinism

E.g. Bandura (1961) showed children w/ violent parents will in turn become violent through observation + imitation, discounting role of free will

Question 10

Describe behaviourism in the Usefulness of Research debate, and link this to a study.

Answer 10

• behaviourism is v useful as adds to our knowledge + has many practical apps

E.g. Bandura’s social learning theory = 9pm watershed, age restrictions on films
+
Chaney = positive reinforcement to improve health

• however ecological validity may affect usefulness of research

E.g. In Bandura’s study pps may have performed to demand characteristics
+
In Chaney pps may have responded in socially desirable way, more likely parents when answering questionnaire on compliance

Question 11

Describe behaviourism in the Psychology as a Science debate, and link this to a study.

Answer 11

• behaviourism supports psycho as a science as research tends to be conducted in lab conditions w/ high controls + so is high in reliability

E.g. Bandura - sequence of events, model’s behaviour + toys used were same for every pp, so kept constant

• however, some questionnaires are used which may lead to social desirability bias

E.g. W/ parents in Chaney when answering questions on medical compliance

Question 12

Describe behaviourism in the Ethics debate, and link this to a study.

Answer 12

• behaviourism = unethical as often child pps used who are not old enough to give consent for participation + so may not understand right to withdraw, + may become distressed through experimentation

E.g. Bandura - children may have suffered distress from frustration of being taken away from room of nice toys, / may have had long term damage / harm / effects from learning aggressive behaviour

Question 13

State the strengths of Behaviourism.

Answer 13

• tends to use scientific, rigorous methodology to study human behaviour, that is observable (e.g. Bandura’s highly controlled lab conditions) so research = reliable
• tends to collect quantitative data which allows for comparisons to be made between pps
• v useful + has provided many practical apps (e.g. 9pm watershed + age restrictions on aggressive films to prevent aggression / use of classical conditioning therapies to understand + treat mental disorders, + operant conditioning to improve adherence to medical regimes

Question 14

State the Weaknesses of Behaviourism.

Answer 14

• may breach ethical guidelines concerning consent + harm by using child pps in research
• takes a reductionistic approach by only looking at stimulus + response ignores other factors that shape behaviour e.g. genetics + cognitive processes
• tends to use highly controlled lab experiments w/ artificial settings to observe human behaviour, so may lack ecological validity

Question 15

Describe the applications of behaviourism.

Answer 15

• aversion therapy: designed to make patients give up an undesirable habit by associating it w/ an unpleasant effect
• flooding: process of teaching patients self relax techniques first, then exposing them abruptly + directly to fear-evoking stimulus
• systematic desensitisation: treatment for phobias where patient is exposed to progressively more anxiety provoking stimuli + taught relaxation techniques