DISCUSS THE BEHAVIOURIST APPROACH
One basic assumption of the Behaviourist Approach (BA) is classical conditioning, which is learning new
behaviour via association. This was researched by Pavlov in dogs. Every time he presented food to the dog he
would ring a bell. The food acted as a neutral stimulus which elicited an unconditioned response e.g salivation,
and the bell acted as an unconditioned stimulus which does not normally elicit a response. Gradually after
repeated pairings, the dog begins to associate the bell with food and the bell becomes a conditioned stimulus
which elicits a conditioned response (the dog salivating) even when the food was no longer present. Classical
conditioning can also be used to explain little Albert’s fear of white rats. Every time he heard a loud noise he
saw a white rat, so after repeated associations the white rat became a conditioned stimulus that elicits a fear
response (conditioned response). So new behaviour can be learnt by classical conditioning.
Another basic assumption of the BA is operant conditioning, which is how behaviour is maintained. One type is
positive reinforcement which is when behaviour is reinforced when an individual receives reward, and this
increases the likelihood of the behaviour being repeated. For example, in Skinner’s box the rats were
conditioned to push the lever because then they would receive a food pellet. Another type is negative
reinforcement which is when behaviour is reinforced by removing a negative aspect. In Skinner's electric box
rats were conditioned to push the lever as then they could avoid electric shocks.
One limitation of the BA is that there may be other opposing theories which offer more credible explanations
for certain behaviours e.g phobias. Behaviourist psychologists believe that phobias are learnt in classical
conditioning and maintained in operant conditioning. However, the cognitive approach offers an alternate
explanation with the computer analogy. They believe that inputted sensory information- for example seeing a
dog- is processed differently in someone with a phobia, and based on their schema and past experiences that
believe that the dog will bite them. The resulting output will be to run away. Here it is irrational thinking which
causes phobias and not learned processes. This suggests that the BA offers an incomplete explanation for
behaviour and ignores the influence of irrational beliefs on behaviour. In addition, the BA falls on the nature
side of the nature-nurture debate. Behaviourists refer to the mind as a tabula rasa (a blank slate) that becomes
filled as one learns new things and gains experience. This means that the BA ignores the influence of nature
and that we can be born with certain qualities.
A strength of the BA is that it has practical applications in developing treatments of phobias. Systematic
desensitisation uses counter conditioning to unlearn the maladaptive response to a situation or object by
eliciting another response (relaxation). Flooding is another behavioural therapy which exposes an individual to
their most feared situation rather than gradually introducing them to it, and this lowers their anxiety in relation
to the phobic stimulus as they can no longer negatively reinforce (avoid) their phobia. This means that the BA
must be valid as therapies based on it are effective. However this form of therapy is not for everyone, as it
takes a lot of time and money.
Another strength is that the theories of the BA are testable. The BA has high scientific credibility as it focuses
on measuring observable behaviour within a controlled lab setting. For example, Pavlov's experiment has
controlled variables such as when to give food to the dog and when to ring the bell. This means that the
experiment can be replicated, and so the theories are reliable. The BA has been influential in the development
of psychology as a science due to its controlled method of research.
One basic assumption of the Behaviourist Approach (BA) is classical conditioning, which is learning new
behaviour via association. This was researched by Pavlov in dogs. Every time he presented food to the dog he
would ring a bell. The food acted as a neutral stimulus which elicited an unconditioned response e.g salivation,
and the bell acted as an unconditioned stimulus which does not normally elicit a response. Gradually after
repeated pairings, the dog begins to associate the bell with food and the bell becomes a conditioned stimulus
which elicits a conditioned response (the dog salivating) even when the food was no longer present. Classical
conditioning can also be used to explain little Albert’s fear of white rats. Every time he heard a loud noise he
saw a white rat, so after repeated associations the white rat became a conditioned stimulus that elicits a fear
response (conditioned response). So new behaviour can be learnt by classical conditioning.
Another basic assumption of the BA is operant conditioning, which is how behaviour is maintained. One type is
positive reinforcement which is when behaviour is reinforced when an individual receives reward, and this
increases the likelihood of the behaviour being repeated. For example, in Skinner’s box the rats were
conditioned to push the lever because then they would receive a food pellet. Another type is negative
reinforcement which is when behaviour is reinforced by removing a negative aspect. In Skinner's electric box
rats were conditioned to push the lever as then they could avoid electric shocks.
One limitation of the BA is that there may be other opposing theories which offer more credible explanations
for certain behaviours e.g phobias. Behaviourist psychologists believe that phobias are learnt in classical
conditioning and maintained in operant conditioning. However, the cognitive approach offers an alternate
explanation with the computer analogy. They believe that inputted sensory information- for example seeing a
dog- is processed differently in someone with a phobia, and based on their schema and past experiences that
believe that the dog will bite them. The resulting output will be to run away. Here it is irrational thinking which
causes phobias and not learned processes. This suggests that the BA offers an incomplete explanation for
behaviour and ignores the influence of irrational beliefs on behaviour. In addition, the BA falls on the nature
side of the nature-nurture debate. Behaviourists refer to the mind as a tabula rasa (a blank slate) that becomes
filled as one learns new things and gains experience. This means that the BA ignores the influence of nature
and that we can be born with certain qualities.
A strength of the BA is that it has practical applications in developing treatments of phobias. Systematic
desensitisation uses counter conditioning to unlearn the maladaptive response to a situation or object by
eliciting another response (relaxation). Flooding is another behavioural therapy which exposes an individual to
their most feared situation rather than gradually introducing them to it, and this lowers their anxiety in relation
to the phobic stimulus as they can no longer negatively reinforce (avoid) their phobia. This means that the BA
must be valid as therapies based on it are effective. However this form of therapy is not for everyone, as it
takes a lot of time and money.
Another strength is that the theories of the BA are testable. The BA has high scientific credibility as it focuses
on measuring observable behaviour within a controlled lab setting. For example, Pavlov's experiment has
controlled variables such as when to give food to the dog and when to ring the bell. This means that the
experiment can be replicated, and so the theories are reliable. The BA has been influential in the development
of psychology as a science due to its controlled method of research.
