ESSAY PLAN - BEHAVIOURISM

A01 - assumption

• behaviour learned by experience (we are born a blank slate - tabula rasa - so there is no genetic influence on behaviour

A01 - CLASSICAL assumption

• learning by association

• Association made between previously neutral stimulus and reflex response - reflex response positive/negative.

• If stimulus association positive - positive response arises whenever person comes in contact with specific stimulus

• If stimulus association negative - negative response arises whenever person comes in contact with specific stimulus

A01 - OPERANT assumption

• learning by consequence

• Works on principle of reinforcement - something in environment that strengthens behaviour, makes it more likely to occur.

1. POSITIVE - recieving reward when certain behaviour is performed. Behaviour more likely to reoccur if rewarded by positive consequence

2. NEGATIVE - rewarded by avoiding something unpleasant. Behaviour more likely to reoccur if rewarded by avoidance of negative consequences.

3. PUNISHMENT - unpleasant consequence of a behaviour. Less likely to reoccur if it results in negative consequences

A03 - STRENGTH

P - supported by evidence

E - Skinner = used rats to demonstrate positive and negative reinforcement, as well as punishment Pavlov = classically conditioned dogs to associate bell with food

E - strength = behaviourist approach provides accurate explanation of behaviour

A03 - LIMITATION

P - animal studies

E - humans are much more complicated beings with complex thought processes, emotions etc. brain capacity and intelligence much higher than that of animals. thus, must extrapolate findings from animal studies to humans with caution

E - Limitation = cannot be fully confident that findings from animal studies can be related to humans as we are two completely different species

A03 - STRENGTH

P- practical applications

E - Classical conditioning = development of systematic desensitisation which works by eliminating the learned anxious response (CR) that is associated with a feared object or situation(CS). therapist tries to replace the maladaptive learned response (anxiety) with a more positive response (relaxation) so that the patient is no longer anxious in the presence of the feared object.

Operant conditioning has led to the use of a token economy system within institutions to reward appropriate behavior with tokens that are exchanged for privileges. Treatments like these are suitable for patients who lack the insight into their condition and are not capable of talking about their problems.

E - These treatments has been found to be effective for a range of conditions and demonstrates the contribution that the behaviourist approach has made to psychology. As the treatment is based on the assumptions of the approach, its effectiveness suggests that the approach must have some validity and merit.

A03 - LIMITATION

P - favours determinism (FREE WILL V. DETERMINISM)

E - Behavioural psychologists claim that human behaviour is the product of external influences (environmental determinism) and as the individual cannot control these processes they can’t be held responsible for their own behaviour. Skinner argued freewill was merely illusion - believed that human behaviour is caused by factors that are out of the individual’s control.

E - limitation - many psychologists disagree, believe that humans have the freewill to choose how to behave e.g. humanistic psychologists