Approaches - Psychology

What are the two main approaches of the learning approach in behaviourism?

• Emphasises the role of environmental factors in influencing behaviour.

• Behaviour would be learnt from our biology and genetics.

• Our behaviours would be leant and acquired through operant conditioning.

• Behaviour would be learnt through our unconscious mind.

How would the behaviourist approach be explained?

• Operant conditioning

• Principle conditioning.

• Secondary conditioning.

• Classical conditioning.

Which experiments support both classical and operant conditioning.

• Operant: Milgram

• Classical: Pavlov

• Operant: Skinner rat experiment.

• Classical: Zimbardo.

Do the behaviourists use scientific methods?

• Yes

• No

• Yes because all of the experiments conducted would be done or at very least involved with a laboratory.

Name 3 strengths of the behaviourist approach?

• Allows the effects of environment on behaviour.

• Provides a strong counter argument to the nature side of the nature nurture debate.

• No contradicting evidence.

• Very useful within the real world. E.g., explaining phobias.

Name three weaknesses of the behaviourists approach?

• Relies on laboratory experiments which reduces ecological validity.

• Massive ethical concerns in terms of the little Albert experiment.

• Reductionist as it ignores the influences of the cognitive effects on behaviour.

• High in ecological validity.

Name two basic assumptions of the social learning theory?

• Most influential theory in explaining behaviour.

• It is rooted in original assumptions of traditional theory.

• Reductionist.

Summary of Social learning theory?

• Social learning theory is a way in which we learn.

• Social learning theory would be a way in which we learn by observing and imitating role models in our lives. This would be done through people retaining information whilst they are being both positively and negatively reinforced.

What research is used to support the social learning theory?

• Broca

• Asch

• KF

• Bandura

One strength and one weakness of Bandura's research?

• Standardized procedures allowing for greater reliability and replicability.

• Low ecological validity after it was not done in a laboratory.

• Control over extraneous variables.