Comparison of approaches
Behaviourism vs social learning:
Same views on development + nurture
Behaviourism and social learning approaches do share some similarities, for example, both have similar views on the
development of human behaviour and seek nurture to be the cause of behaviour. For example, the behaviourist
approach holds the view that we are born as a blank slate, and we learn through experience and processes that
occur to us at any age. Pavlov developed the theory of classical conditioning, using dogs to demonstrate that
behaviour is learnt through association, and applied this to the development of human behaviour. In the same way,
the social learning theory holds the view that humans learn through observations and this process is continuous,
occurring at any age. Bandura displayed this in his bobo doll study, in which children imitated the aggressive
behaviour of aggressive role models, implying they learnt from observing others behaviour. This demonstrates that
while the social learning theory takes into account the role of cognitive processes in affecting the storing of observed
behaviour, essentially, they both supporting the nurture side of the nature vs nurture debate in the stance that they
both believe humans are born as a blank slate and all behaviour is learnt.
Point 2 = different determinism
Behaviourism = all behaviour is environmentally determined by external influences that we cant control – hard
determinism
Social learning = we are influenced by environment, but we influence the choice to remember behaviour – soft
determinism
However, one difference between the behaviourist and social learning approach is the extent to which each
approach claims that human behaviour is determined. The behaviourist approach claims that behaviour is
determined by the environment and external influences which we have no control over, which is known as hard
determinism. The social learning theory presents a softer view and suggests that behaviour is, to some extent,
controlled by environmental forces, however, the theory also argues that humans have some level of influence over
the choice of behaviours we choose to imitate or remember, therefore advocating a soft determinism stance.
Therefore, while both approaches agree that behaviour is determined to an extent, the social learning approach
provides a softer view that acknowledges some role of free will and choice.
Point 3 = application to treatments
Behaviourism = systematic desensitisation, successful
SLT = little application, can only suggest how e.g., negative behaviour occurs through the influence of dysfunctional
role models, such as the differential association theory in forensics, if a person is brought up around pro-criminal
attitudes and behaviour, they are more likely to develop these traits themselves.
A following difference between behaviourism and social learning theory is the practicalities of each approach in the
development of treatments. Behaviourism has led to some successful treatments such as systematic desensitisation
e.g., 60% of people treated for a flying phobia continued to fly during the 3 ½ year follow up. whereas social learning
theory has not led to any treatment and remains useful as an explanation only for how come behaviour occurs. For
example, in forensics blah blah differential association theory blah blah
Behaviourism vs cognitive:
1) Both reductionist
Behaviourism = breaks up behaviour into stimulus-response units for testing in labs
Cognitive = shows humans as information processing machines and ignores emotions, machine reductionism
2) Different determinism
Behaviourism = behaviour is environmentally determined by external influences that we cant control, hard
, Cognitive = softer view, behaviour is to some extent controlled by environmental forces; however, cognitive
psychologists argue that humans have personal responsibility and free choice, we can be choosers of our own
thoughts an behaviours, advocating a soft determinist stance.
3) Both been practically applied to help people in the real world
Behaviourism = systematic desensitisation
Cognitive = combined with behavioural CBT, it treats depression
Behaviourism vs biological
1) Nature v nurture different
Behaviourism = blank slate at birth, learning occurs through association and reinforcement, nurture
Biological = behaviour is a result of genetics inherited from parents, nature
2) Both seek reductionist explanations for behaviour
Behaviourism = breaks up behaviour into stimulus – response units for testing in labs, reductionist
Biological = explains behaviour and psychological approach at gene or neuron level, reductionist
3) Application to treatments
Behaviourism = development of systematic desensitisation, 60% continued to fly following a 3 ½ year follow up
Biological = drug therapy has been very important, e.g., OCD and depression, SSRIs, march et al 81% significant
improvements after 36 weeks
Behaviourism vs Psychodynamic
1) Both claim human behaviour is determined
Behaviourism = all behaviour is environmentally determined by external influences that we can’t control, hard
Psychodynamic = physic determinism, we don’t know the unconscious forces that control behaviour, hard.
Determined by unconscious drives and childhood experiences
2) Approaches are not equally scientific
Behaviourism = utilises scientific methods of investigations, laboratory studies and animal research
Psychodynamic = not scientific, examines may concepts and theories which can not be empirically tested. Relies
on subjective interpretation
3) Applications to treatment
Behaviourism = systematic desensitisation etc
Psychodynamic = psychodynamic therapy in the form of psychoanalysis has been a central feature in the history
of psychiatry as a medical speciality. This therapy can include hypnosis, dream analysis and other techniques
aimed at accessing the unconscious. While this therapy has reduced in popularity over the past few decades, the
psychodynamic approach has been an influential element in the development of later therapies such as CBT and
therefore both approaches have provided positive applications to the treatment of numerous disorders over the
years.
Behaviourism vs humanism
1) Extent to which approach claims human behaviour is determined
Behaviourism = all behaviour is environmentally determined by external influences that we cannot control.
Humanism = we have free will and act as active agents who determine their own development
Behaviourism vs social learning:
Same views on development + nurture
Behaviourism and social learning approaches do share some similarities, for example, both have similar views on the
development of human behaviour and seek nurture to be the cause of behaviour. For example, the behaviourist
approach holds the view that we are born as a blank slate, and we learn through experience and processes that
occur to us at any age. Pavlov developed the theory of classical conditioning, using dogs to demonstrate that
behaviour is learnt through association, and applied this to the development of human behaviour. In the same way,
the social learning theory holds the view that humans learn through observations and this process is continuous,
occurring at any age. Bandura displayed this in his bobo doll study, in which children imitated the aggressive
behaviour of aggressive role models, implying they learnt from observing others behaviour. This demonstrates that
while the social learning theory takes into account the role of cognitive processes in affecting the storing of observed
behaviour, essentially, they both supporting the nurture side of the nature vs nurture debate in the stance that they
both believe humans are born as a blank slate and all behaviour is learnt.
Point 2 = different determinism
Behaviourism = all behaviour is environmentally determined by external influences that we cant control – hard
determinism
Social learning = we are influenced by environment, but we influence the choice to remember behaviour – soft
determinism
However, one difference between the behaviourist and social learning approach is the extent to which each
approach claims that human behaviour is determined. The behaviourist approach claims that behaviour is
determined by the environment and external influences which we have no control over, which is known as hard
determinism. The social learning theory presents a softer view and suggests that behaviour is, to some extent,
controlled by environmental forces, however, the theory also argues that humans have some level of influence over
the choice of behaviours we choose to imitate or remember, therefore advocating a soft determinism stance.
Therefore, while both approaches agree that behaviour is determined to an extent, the social learning approach
provides a softer view that acknowledges some role of free will and choice.
Point 3 = application to treatments
Behaviourism = systematic desensitisation, successful
SLT = little application, can only suggest how e.g., negative behaviour occurs through the influence of dysfunctional
role models, such as the differential association theory in forensics, if a person is brought up around pro-criminal
attitudes and behaviour, they are more likely to develop these traits themselves.
A following difference between behaviourism and social learning theory is the practicalities of each approach in the
development of treatments. Behaviourism has led to some successful treatments such as systematic desensitisation
e.g., 60% of people treated for a flying phobia continued to fly during the 3 ½ year follow up. whereas social learning
theory has not led to any treatment and remains useful as an explanation only for how come behaviour occurs. For
example, in forensics blah blah differential association theory blah blah
Behaviourism vs cognitive:
1) Both reductionist
Behaviourism = breaks up behaviour into stimulus-response units for testing in labs
Cognitive = shows humans as information processing machines and ignores emotions, machine reductionism
2) Different determinism
Behaviourism = behaviour is environmentally determined by external influences that we cant control, hard
, Cognitive = softer view, behaviour is to some extent controlled by environmental forces; however, cognitive
psychologists argue that humans have personal responsibility and free choice, we can be choosers of our own
thoughts an behaviours, advocating a soft determinist stance.
3) Both been practically applied to help people in the real world
Behaviourism = systematic desensitisation
Cognitive = combined with behavioural CBT, it treats depression
Behaviourism vs biological
1) Nature v nurture different
Behaviourism = blank slate at birth, learning occurs through association and reinforcement, nurture
Biological = behaviour is a result of genetics inherited from parents, nature
2) Both seek reductionist explanations for behaviour
Behaviourism = breaks up behaviour into stimulus – response units for testing in labs, reductionist
Biological = explains behaviour and psychological approach at gene or neuron level, reductionist
3) Application to treatments
Behaviourism = development of systematic desensitisation, 60% continued to fly following a 3 ½ year follow up
Biological = drug therapy has been very important, e.g., OCD and depression, SSRIs, march et al 81% significant
improvements after 36 weeks
Behaviourism vs Psychodynamic
1) Both claim human behaviour is determined
Behaviourism = all behaviour is environmentally determined by external influences that we can’t control, hard
Psychodynamic = physic determinism, we don’t know the unconscious forces that control behaviour, hard.
Determined by unconscious drives and childhood experiences
2) Approaches are not equally scientific
Behaviourism = utilises scientific methods of investigations, laboratory studies and animal research
Psychodynamic = not scientific, examines may concepts and theories which can not be empirically tested. Relies
on subjective interpretation
3) Applications to treatment
Behaviourism = systematic desensitisation etc
Psychodynamic = psychodynamic therapy in the form of psychoanalysis has been a central feature in the history
of psychiatry as a medical speciality. This therapy can include hypnosis, dream analysis and other techniques
aimed at accessing the unconscious. While this therapy has reduced in popularity over the past few decades, the
psychodynamic approach has been an influential element in the development of later therapies such as CBT and
therefore both approaches have provided positive applications to the treatment of numerous disorders over the
years.
Behaviourism vs humanism
1) Extent to which approach claims human behaviour is determined
Behaviourism = all behaviour is environmentally determined by external influences that we cannot control.
Humanism = we have free will and act as active agents who determine their own development
