Behavioural Perspective Flashcards
What developmental studies link with the behavioural perspective??
Bandura and Chaney et al.
What are the three main assumptions of the behavioural perspective??
Behaviour is observed.
We are products of our environment.
We acquire our behaviour through learning.
How do you behaviourists make psychology seem a science??
They ignore the mind and focus on behaviour as you can not see directly into the mind and good science requires that you should study what can only be seen.
What is the black box theory??
Behaviourists treat the mind as a closed box as we learn behaviour through stimulus and response.
Does behaviourists take the nature or nurture side of the debate??
The nurture side as it believes that behaviour is caused by environmental influences.
What are the three types of conditioning??
Classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and observational learning.
What is operant conditioning??
Learning by the consequences of actions e.g positive and negative reinforcement and punishment.
what is observational learning??
The observer imitates behaviour modelled by another individual =social learning theory.
Social learning theory??
Observation of role model, vicarious reinforcement, mental representation, self efficacy, imitation, Direct reinforcement and repetition.
Strengths of the behavioural perspective??
Scientific - involves studies such as Bandura which are lab experiments and therefore highly reliable.
Easily testable because by concern easily observed behaviour.
Practical applications - behaviourism is used in the real world, E.g. to treat mental disorders (classical) and to modify behaviour (operant).
Weaknesses of behavioural perspective??
Reductionist - it ignores mental processes and just focuses on stimulus and response. For example:
There are many aspects of human aggression including biological, cognitive (situation) and social. Aggression is not just a learned response.
Raises ethical issues - altering human behaviour can cause harm.
The use of punishment can cause psychological and physical harm.
