Outline and evaluate the behaviorist approach

Who established the behaviourist approach?

John B. Watson

AO1: What does the behaviourist approach believe?

The behavioural approach believes that our behaviour is learned and a product of our external surroundings; we are conditioned in our responses to events.

AO1: Key assumptions of the behaviourist approach:

• The behaviour is observable and measurable -> this is why they are adamant that psychology is a science (no thoughts or feelings) 

• The idea of Tabula Rasa is prevalent (born with a blank slate) 

• They believe that there is little difference between the learned behaviours of humans (‘a higher order of animal’) and other animals 

AO1/AO3: The research of Ivan Pavlov

Ivan Pavlov was a Russian physiologist best known for his research on classical conditioning. Pavlov’s primary aim was to study how his dogs learned by association.

His procedure included an unconditioned stimulus: a stimulus that naturally triggers a response (food causing salivation), neutral stimulus: a stimulus that initially does not trigger the response (a bell), pairing: the neutral stimulus is repeatedly paired with the unconditioned stimulus (ringing the bell before giving food), conditioned stimulus: after repeated pairings, the neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus (the bell alone starts to trigger salivation), conditioned response: the learned response to the conditioned stimulus (salivation in response to the bell alone).

AO1/AO3: The research of BF. Skinner

BF. Skinner also did research into the behaviourist approach, but instead, this was called operant conditioning.

This method relied on reinforcement. This meant the belief that our learnt behaviour is a result/consequence of both positive and negative reinforcement in our environment.

Examples of positive reinforcement are praise points (Involving rewards) and negative reinforcement, such as avoiding being sent out of class (Avoiding punishment). Then you have positive punishment, which includes corporal punishment or more common detention (Receiving something unpleasant), for negative punishment, it’s the idea of taking away something desirable or that you like.

AO3: Methodologies are scientific and observable (Strength)

Pavlov & Skinner both used lab experiments which mean that all extraneous variables were removed. This allowed for cause and effect relationships to be determined. Results have a higher likelihood at scientific credibility and are therefore more inclined to have a high internal validity since they’re controlled.

AO3: Real world applications (Strength)

Token economy

• a behavior modification technique based on operant conditioning, used in institutions (e.g., psychiatric hospitals, prisons) to aid in managing and improving patient or inmate behavior

Systematic desensitisation for phobias

• Systematic desensitisation uses reverse counter-conditioning to unlearn the maladaptive response to a situation or object, by eliciting another response (relaxation).

Two process model for attachment

• This is rooted in learning theory, commonly known as "cupboard love," which posits that infants become attached to caregivers because they associate them with food.

AO3: Animal studies (Limitation)

Both Skinner and Pavlov experimented on animals, so we can argue that research done on animals is not related to humans and therefore cannot be generalised to the wider human population. (lack generalisability)

In Skinners research done on rats, we know that humans and rats react different to stimuli and might not react the same way to the stimuli.

On top of this, the rats in Skinner’s were terribly mistreated as they were shocked throughout, this means that the animals were not protected from harm and therefore animal studies like this can be viewed as unethical.

AO3: Reductionist/Determinist (Limitation)

R: Ignores mental processes & see humans as passive respondents to their environment this means that it lacks ecological validity.

D: Skinner also suggests that everything we do is the result of our reinforcement history

• Ignores the influence of free will on our behavior

• This is an extreme position and can encourage violent behavior as we no longer believe we are responsible for our own behaviors.