Approaches 16 Mark Essay Plans
Outline and Evaluate the Behaviourist Approach
AO1 The behaviourist approach attempts to explain behaviour from past experiences using stimulus-
response connections and consequences.
Classical Conditioning:
- This is when a neutral stimulus is repeatedly paired with an unconditioned response to make a
conditioned stimulus that produces a conditioned response.
- This was demonstrated by Pavlov who used his dog. Originally, a bell was a neutral stimulus,
however it was continuously paired with his food (unconditioned stimulus producing an
unconditioned response- salivation). Therefore, the bell becomes the conditioned stimulus
which produces a conditioned response (salivation)
Operant Conditioning:
- This uses consequences to shape behaviour.
- This was demonstrated by Skinner using his rats. He put them into a cage which has a lever,
when the rats pressed the lever, food was released. Once the rats made this connection, the
behaviour was repeated due to positive reinforcement. However, if the lever was held for
more than 30 seconds, an electric shock was administered so by negative reinforcement, the
rats learnt not to hold the lever down.
Positive reinforcement- when a positive behaviour is rewarded so it is repeated.
Negative reinforcement- when a behaviour is done to escape a negative consequence, it is repeated.
Punishment- a negative behaviour is followed by a negative consequence, so the behaviour is not
repeated.
Extinction- a behaviour is not reinforced so is stopped.
AO3 1. This approach is highly environmentally deterministic as it implies, we are slaves of our past
experiences and the environment and hard determinist as it implies we have no free will in
how we behave. Furthermore, it is environmentally reductionist as it only takes into account
environmental factors into the development of our behaviour when actually, there are other
factors such as our biology which heavily influence how we behave.
2. There is a lot of strong, objective and scientific evidence for this approach such as Skinners rats
and Pavlov’s dogs as it involves systematically manipulating the variables to focus on
observable behaviours to determine a cause-and-effect relationship. This increases the
reliability and validity of the approach, contributing to the role of psychology as a creditable
science.
3. The use of animals in much of the research into this approach means that it is limited in its
application to humans. Animals have similar biology to humans, but human interaction and
behaviour is far more complex than animals as we have the role of cognitive factors such as
thought processing that interfere with our behaviours, unlike animals. This means the
evidence from animal studies cannot be generalised to humans. Meaning research from Pavlov
and Skinner is not valid. Furthermore, Skinner’s research has been criticised for being unethical
due to the harsh treatment of the rats when electrocuted.
4. This approach as practical application into the acquisition of phobias by classical conditioning
and maintenance of phobias by operant conditioning. Furthermore, it has treatment
implications into phobias for example, counter-conditioning principles used in both flooding
and systematic desensitization.
5. This approach contrasts the biological approach which states that behaviour is innate rather
than learnt. This means the behaviourist appraoch contributes to the nurture/ nature debate
, Approaches 16 Mark Essay Plans
by advocating for nurture.
Describe and Evaluate the Biological Approach
AO1 The biological approach explains behaviour in terms of biological structure, genetics and
neurochemistry, suggesting behaviour is innate.
Genetics:
- This approach explains behaviour in terms of genetics, genes are passed down from our
parents and influence our genotype, which then goes on to form our phenotypes which are
the observable characteristics we possess as a result of our genes and environment.
- Genetic factors can be investigated using twins, if MZ twins have a higher concordance rate
than DZ twins, this shows that the disorder/ characteristic has a high genetic element to it.
- For example, OCD can be explained by genetics, it is polygenetic meaning many genes can
create a vulnerability and the higher concordance rate of OCD in MZ twins compared to DZ
twins, shows evidence for the influence of genes.
Brain structures:
- Brain structures have been proven to influence our behaviour as functions are localised to
particular areas of the brain. For example, research has found that transgender people often
have a BST size that doesn’t correlate to their gender assigned, creating a feeling of
discomfort in the gender they have been assigned.
Neurochemistry:
- Neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine have been shown to influence our
behaviour.
- For example, excess dopamine in the brain can lead to positive symptoms of schizophrenia
such as hallucinations and delusions. Whereas a lack of dopamine in the brain can lead to
negative symptoms such as avolition.
AO3 1. Biological reductionism and determinism, perhaps interactionist approach is more suitable.
2. Practical application into explaining and treating OCD/ schizophrenia. The biological approach
has led to the development of drugs such as anti-psychotics and SSRI’s which work to return
neurotransmitter levels to normal. The effectiveness of drugs show evidence for the
influence of biological factors.
3. Issues with causality- many disorder have been said to be caused by abnormal
neurotransmitter levels, for example OCD is caused by abnormally low serotonin however, it
is impossible to determine if the low serotonin is causes OCD or if OCD causes low serotonin
levels as we can only determine correlations.
4. Highly scientific and objective methods are used in research so results are often highly valid
and reliable, increasing the scientific credibility of psychology.
5. Contribute to the nature side of the nature/ nurture debate.
6. Limitation of twin studies cannot separate biological and environmental influences because
MZ twins tend to share the same environment as well as genetics, so it is impossible to show
cause and effect. Furthermore, no concordance rates are 100% so other factors must have a
role.
7. The impact of chromosomes and hormones in gender is evidenced by David Reimer.
Outline and Evaluate the Behaviourist Approach
AO1 The behaviourist approach attempts to explain behaviour from past experiences using stimulus-
response connections and consequences.
Classical Conditioning:
- This is when a neutral stimulus is repeatedly paired with an unconditioned response to make a
conditioned stimulus that produces a conditioned response.
- This was demonstrated by Pavlov who used his dog. Originally, a bell was a neutral stimulus,
however it was continuously paired with his food (unconditioned stimulus producing an
unconditioned response- salivation). Therefore, the bell becomes the conditioned stimulus
which produces a conditioned response (salivation)
Operant Conditioning:
- This uses consequences to shape behaviour.
- This was demonstrated by Skinner using his rats. He put them into a cage which has a lever,
when the rats pressed the lever, food was released. Once the rats made this connection, the
behaviour was repeated due to positive reinforcement. However, if the lever was held for
more than 30 seconds, an electric shock was administered so by negative reinforcement, the
rats learnt not to hold the lever down.
Positive reinforcement- when a positive behaviour is rewarded so it is repeated.
Negative reinforcement- when a behaviour is done to escape a negative consequence, it is repeated.
Punishment- a negative behaviour is followed by a negative consequence, so the behaviour is not
repeated.
Extinction- a behaviour is not reinforced so is stopped.
AO3 1. This approach is highly environmentally deterministic as it implies, we are slaves of our past
experiences and the environment and hard determinist as it implies we have no free will in
how we behave. Furthermore, it is environmentally reductionist as it only takes into account
environmental factors into the development of our behaviour when actually, there are other
factors such as our biology which heavily influence how we behave.
2. There is a lot of strong, objective and scientific evidence for this approach such as Skinners rats
and Pavlov’s dogs as it involves systematically manipulating the variables to focus on
observable behaviours to determine a cause-and-effect relationship. This increases the
reliability and validity of the approach, contributing to the role of psychology as a creditable
science.
3. The use of animals in much of the research into this approach means that it is limited in its
application to humans. Animals have similar biology to humans, but human interaction and
behaviour is far more complex than animals as we have the role of cognitive factors such as
thought processing that interfere with our behaviours, unlike animals. This means the
evidence from animal studies cannot be generalised to humans. Meaning research from Pavlov
and Skinner is not valid. Furthermore, Skinner’s research has been criticised for being unethical
due to the harsh treatment of the rats when electrocuted.
4. This approach as practical application into the acquisition of phobias by classical conditioning
and maintenance of phobias by operant conditioning. Furthermore, it has treatment
implications into phobias for example, counter-conditioning principles used in both flooding
and systematic desensitization.
5. This approach contrasts the biological approach which states that behaviour is innate rather
than learnt. This means the behaviourist appraoch contributes to the nurture/ nature debate
, Approaches 16 Mark Essay Plans
by advocating for nurture.
Describe and Evaluate the Biological Approach
AO1 The biological approach explains behaviour in terms of biological structure, genetics and
neurochemistry, suggesting behaviour is innate.
Genetics:
- This approach explains behaviour in terms of genetics, genes are passed down from our
parents and influence our genotype, which then goes on to form our phenotypes which are
the observable characteristics we possess as a result of our genes and environment.
- Genetic factors can be investigated using twins, if MZ twins have a higher concordance rate
than DZ twins, this shows that the disorder/ characteristic has a high genetic element to it.
- For example, OCD can be explained by genetics, it is polygenetic meaning many genes can
create a vulnerability and the higher concordance rate of OCD in MZ twins compared to DZ
twins, shows evidence for the influence of genes.
Brain structures:
- Brain structures have been proven to influence our behaviour as functions are localised to
particular areas of the brain. For example, research has found that transgender people often
have a BST size that doesn’t correlate to their gender assigned, creating a feeling of
discomfort in the gender they have been assigned.
Neurochemistry:
- Neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine have been shown to influence our
behaviour.
- For example, excess dopamine in the brain can lead to positive symptoms of schizophrenia
such as hallucinations and delusions. Whereas a lack of dopamine in the brain can lead to
negative symptoms such as avolition.
AO3 1. Biological reductionism and determinism, perhaps interactionist approach is more suitable.
2. Practical application into explaining and treating OCD/ schizophrenia. The biological approach
has led to the development of drugs such as anti-psychotics and SSRI’s which work to return
neurotransmitter levels to normal. The effectiveness of drugs show evidence for the
influence of biological factors.
3. Issues with causality- many disorder have been said to be caused by abnormal
neurotransmitter levels, for example OCD is caused by abnormally low serotonin however, it
is impossible to determine if the low serotonin is causes OCD or if OCD causes low serotonin
levels as we can only determine correlations.
4. Highly scientific and objective methods are used in research so results are often highly valid
and reliable, increasing the scientific credibility of psychology.
5. Contribute to the nature side of the nature/ nurture debate.
6. Limitation of twin studies cannot separate biological and environmental influences because
MZ twins tend to share the same environment as well as genetics, so it is impossible to show
cause and effect. Furthermore, no concordance rates are 100% so other factors must have a
role.
7. The impact of chromosomes and hormones in gender is evidenced by David Reimer.
