Only observable behaviour should
be studied for psychology to be an
objective science.
Findings from testing done on animals
can be extrapolated to humans.
Classical Conditioning
Learning by association.
Classical Conditioning is the process of linking two stimuli
together, before conditioning and unconditioned stimulus
produces and unconditioned response. During conditioning a
neutral stimulus is paired with the unconditioned stimulus
multiple times. After conditioning learning has taken place
and the neutral stimulus now elicits the same response as
the unconditioned stimulus and thus becoming the
conditioned stimulus that produced a conditioned response.
Pavlov Dogs - Pavlov
used his dogs to
show his theory of
classical conditions
and how it worked.
Little Albert Experiment - Small Boy was shown various things
and he was not scared these things were then paired with a
loud clanging noise which scared him, the original items that
didn't scare him before now scared him when he saw them.
Evaluation
Strengths
Experimental Support - For example
Skinners rats, the little Albert experiment
and Pavlovs dogs. This provides validity to
what is being claimed about behaviour as
experimental findings can be used to cake up
their claims, this is good because it means
that the behavioural approach can be use to
explain certain behaviours.
Very Scientific - Behaviourist Approach is very
scientific as it states only observable behaviour
should be studied also most experiments are lab
experiments therefore there is high control this
means the results are more likely be reliable and
the experimets can be repeated thus creating valid
results.
Real Life Application - Opperant conditioning can be applied to teaching children
the right way to behave, also classical conditioning can be applied to phobias as
what they are scared of gets associated with something else and results in a
phobia. This can therefore be used to teach children better and cure phobias.
Weaknesses
Lab Experiments - All experiments done in a lab environment so they cannot be
said to apply to real life situations, although it is unlikely demand characteristics
were shown in any of the noteable behaviourist approach experiments it is still a
possibility that must be considered. If demand characteristics were showing an
experiment then the ecological validity would be compromised as it would not be
now if the findings of the study were accurate.
Deterministic View Of Behaviour - Ignores the
effect free will on behaviour and states that all
behaviour is the result of past experiences, also
any other cause of behaviour is ignored therefore
making the behavioural approach very
reductionistic that believes there is only one
cause of all behaviour.
Animal Research - Majority of
experiments conducted on animals so
the results cannot be confidently applied
to human behaviour, also the ethics of
animal experiments are questionable
which effects the credibility and validity
of the results, this could effect how the
behaviourist approach is viewed as a
psychological approach.
Operant Conditioning
Learning by consequence.
Positive Reinforcement - Reciving an award for a
certain behaviour thus increasing the likelihood
the behaviour will be repeated. e.g animals being
given treats when they do what they are told or
workers receiving bonuses of hard work.
Negative Reinforcement - Preforming a behaviour
stops something unpleasant therefore increasing the
likelihood that the behaviour will be repeated. e.g
Putting a seatbelt on to stop the beeping or a horses
reins being loosened when the horse slows down.
Punishment - An unpleasant concequece of
behaviour therefore decreasing the likelihood if
that behaviour being repeated. e.g taking
something away from a child for bad behaviour or
a student being shouted at for talking in lessons.
Skinners Rats - rats put in wooden boxes
with levers, half pushed lever and were
rewarded with food (Positive reinforcement)
and half pushed the lever and the electric
shocks they were being given stopped
(Negative Reinforcement).