Behaviourist Approach
Assumptions
The assumption ‘Humans Are Born Like a Blank Slate’ says that that behaviour is
learned from interactions with the environment, but babies are born with basic
responses such as crying, pain, and hunger. Environmental Determinism is when
all behaviour is determined by the environment we grew up in.
The assumption ‘Behaviour Learned Through Conditioning’ says that classical
conditioning is when associations are made between stimuli and responses.
Pavlov (1902) investigated salivation in dogs. Food was the unconditioned
stimulus (UCS) and salivation was the unconditioned response (UCR). A bell was
the neutral stimulus (NS) presented alongside the UCS multiple times, and
associations begin to form. The bell became the conditioned stimulus (CS) and
salivation was the conditioned response (CR). Operant conditioning is when
behaviour is learned through reinforcements and punishments. Reinforcements
encourage behaviour to be repeated and can be positive (e.g. stickers for
behaving in the dentist) or negative (e.g. wearing sun cream to avoid getting
burnt). Punishments encourage the behaviour to not be repeated and can be
positive (e.g. shouting at a naughty child) or negative (e.g. confiscating a
phone).
The assumption ‘Humans and Animals Learn in Similar Ways’ says that studying
animal behaviour/learning in a lab allows generalisations to be made about
human behaviour. Although they learn in similar ways, humans can learn more
complex behaviours. Classical conditioning principles have been applied to
therapies such as Systematic Desensitisation. Operant conditioning techniques
have been applied to Token Economy Systems in schools and prisons, where
tokens are exchanged for sweets or cigarettes.
Relationship Formation
Classical conditioning can offer a behaviourist explanation for relationship
formation as we tend to like people we associate with pleasant events. For
example, babies associate their mother (neutral stimulus) with food which forms
an attachment as the mother becomes the conditioned stimulus, and a
relationship is formed. Operant conditioning can explain the formation of pet-
owner relationships. Pets are given treats as rewards for good behaviour
(positive reinforcement) which increases satisfaction in both pet and owner. The
formation of romantic relationships can also be explained by operant
conditioning as people give each other compliments, a form of positive
reinforcement.
Systematic Desensitisation
The therapy operates mainly on classical conditioning principles as clients form a
new association between the phobic object and relaxation. Operant conditioning
principles also apply as clients feel relaxation in the presence of the phobic
object (positive reinforcement) so are encouraged to move up the
desensitisation hierarchy.
Assumptions
The assumption ‘Humans Are Born Like a Blank Slate’ says that that behaviour is
learned from interactions with the environment, but babies are born with basic
responses such as crying, pain, and hunger. Environmental Determinism is when
all behaviour is determined by the environment we grew up in.
The assumption ‘Behaviour Learned Through Conditioning’ says that classical
conditioning is when associations are made between stimuli and responses.
Pavlov (1902) investigated salivation in dogs. Food was the unconditioned
stimulus (UCS) and salivation was the unconditioned response (UCR). A bell was
the neutral stimulus (NS) presented alongside the UCS multiple times, and
associations begin to form. The bell became the conditioned stimulus (CS) and
salivation was the conditioned response (CR). Operant conditioning is when
behaviour is learned through reinforcements and punishments. Reinforcements
encourage behaviour to be repeated and can be positive (e.g. stickers for
behaving in the dentist) or negative (e.g. wearing sun cream to avoid getting
burnt). Punishments encourage the behaviour to not be repeated and can be
positive (e.g. shouting at a naughty child) or negative (e.g. confiscating a
phone).
The assumption ‘Humans and Animals Learn in Similar Ways’ says that studying
animal behaviour/learning in a lab allows generalisations to be made about
human behaviour. Although they learn in similar ways, humans can learn more
complex behaviours. Classical conditioning principles have been applied to
therapies such as Systematic Desensitisation. Operant conditioning techniques
have been applied to Token Economy Systems in schools and prisons, where
tokens are exchanged for sweets or cigarettes.
Relationship Formation
Classical conditioning can offer a behaviourist explanation for relationship
formation as we tend to like people we associate with pleasant events. For
example, babies associate their mother (neutral stimulus) with food which forms
an attachment as the mother becomes the conditioned stimulus, and a
relationship is formed. Operant conditioning can explain the formation of pet-
owner relationships. Pets are given treats as rewards for good behaviour
(positive reinforcement) which increases satisfaction in both pet and owner. The
formation of romantic relationships can also be explained by operant
conditioning as people give each other compliments, a form of positive
reinforcement.
Systematic Desensitisation
The therapy operates mainly on classical conditioning principles as clients form a
new association between the phobic object and relaxation. Operant conditioning
principles also apply as clients feel relaxation in the presence of the phobic
object (positive reinforcement) so are encouraged to move up the
desensitisation hierarchy.
