TOPIC 3- ALTERNATIVES TO MEDICAL MODEL- Behaviourist explanation

Question 1

Behaviourist explanation of mental illness

Answer 1

According to behaviourism we are born as a blank slate- all behaviour is learnt through experience (nurture).
Classical conditioning= theorises we learn through association.
Operant conditioning= states we learn through consequences.
Social learning theory= proposes we learn through observation.

Question 2

Classical conditioning- Ivan Pavlov 1890s

Answer 2

Ivan Pavlov (1890s) conditioned dogs to salivate to sound of a bell. Unconditioned stimulus= food and salvation= unconditioned response. Bell paired with food (bell= neutral stimulus) continued pairing until neutral stimulus becomes conditioned stimulus and unconditioned response of salvation becomes conditioned. Dogs eventually salivated to sound of a bell (formed an association- bell was conditioned stimulus and salivating was conditioned response).

Question 3

Classical conditioning- Watson & Rayner 1920

Answer 3

Watson & Rayner (1920) conditioned 9 month old boy Little Albert to be fearful of white rats (mental illness can be learned).
Iron bar made loud noise= unconditioned stimulus, unconditioned response= being upset.
Presented Albert white rat alongside loud noise, paired number of times until began to associate white rat with loud noise- made him scared (conditioned response) of white rate (conditioned stimulus). Even generalised his fear to items that looked like rats.

Question 4

Operant conditioning

Answer 4

Theory proposing all behaviour is learned through consequences. If behaviour reinforced then chances of occuring again increases.
If behaviour punished- less likely to occur in future.
This theory states reinforcement and punishment can be both positive & negative.
Operant conditioning can be used to explain acquisition of mental illness e.g developing phobia from fearing leaving house because of unwanted incident (punishment) if family visits at home this rewards behaviour, reinforcing it- agoraphobia develops.
A behavioural psychologist would also argue operant conditioning can explain development of schizophrenia as ‘odd’ behaviours rewarded through attention, behaviour repeated as a result of this.
Eating disorders; loose weight, complimented, put on weight, negative comments- consequences leads to development of ED.

Question 5

Operant conditioning- B.F Skinner

Answer 5

Developed theory with rats, more likely to press lever which produced food (reinforcement) than a lever that gave them a shock (punishment).

Question 6

Social Learning Theory (SLT)
Observation & Imitation

Answer 6

Behaviour learned through observation and imitation of role models (Bandura’s study)
Could explain development of mental illness- e.g if parent displays mental illness symptoms, child may copy.
Behaviourists propose if a parent has depression or schizophrenia, child may learn these behaviours- reinforced further if they see role model rewarded for such actions through attention (vicarious reinforcement).
Same for celebrities- young girls see underweight rewarded as looking good (vicarious reinforcement) and overweight being mocked (vicarious punishment) may consequently cause development of an eating disorder.