Behaviourist Approach

Describe, discuss and evaluate the behaviourist approach (10marks)

One key assumption of the behaviourist approach is that we are born as a blank slate and all our behaviour is learnt from influences and experiences in the environment, therefore the behaviour approach takes the nature side of the nature-nurture debate and reminds us the impact the environment has on behaviour.

Another assumption of the behaviourist approach is that all behaviour is learnt through the process of operant and classical conditioning. Operant conditioning is when behaviour is made more or less likely as a result of its consequences. These consequences can either be seen as rewarding or punishing. Positive reinforcement strengthens behaviour by presenting the organism with something it likes, negative reinforcement strengthens behaviour by removing an unpleasant experience in order to increase the likelihood of a desired response and punishment weakens behaviour by introducing the presence of a negative stimulus to prevent the response occurring again.

Classical conditioning is learning by association of two stimuli when they are presented together, such that the response usually caused by the stimulus is transferred to another. The person learns by creating an existing response and transferring that to a new stimulus. The principles of classical conditioning have provided many beneficial treatments such as treatments for phobias through systematic desensitisation where fear response is associated with relaxation.

A study by Watson and Rayner used classical conditioning to investigate whether it was possible to condition an emotional response such as fear into an 11 month of boy (Little Albert). They showed little Albert a white rat and he showed no fear and went to grab hold of it. Then they paired a loud noise with the rat over a number of weeks. The loud noise scared the boy, because of this when little Albert was just paired