This approach suggests that behaviour is learnt through the environment, as a result of conditioning. There are two types of conditioning:
> Classical Conditioning is learning a behaviour through association. Pavlov conducted a study into this type of conditioning when he noticed that the unconditioned stimulus of food consistently produced the unconditioned response of the dog drooling. He added a neutral stimulus of a bell ringing when the UCS was present. After several pairings of the UCS and NS, the dogs would drool simply when the bell rang, even when there was no food, as they were conditioned to associate the sound of the bell ringing with food.
> Operant Conditioning is learning through reinforcement. Positive reinforcement is when the behaviour results in the addition of a pleasant consequence whereas negative reinforcement is when the behaviour results in the removal of an unpleasant consequence. Punishment is when a behaviour results in the addition of an unpleasant consequence.. Skinner carried out research using 'Skinner's Box'. He attempted to condition rats through reinforcement; if the rat pressed the lever when the light shone, they were rewarded with food. He also established schedules of reinforcement. Continuous reinforcement schedules (feeding the rat every time they pressed the lever) were most effective in establishing a particular response whereas partial reinforcement schedules (feeding the rat every third lever press) were most effective for maintaining the particular response and avoiding extinction.
+ studies used in the behaviourist approach used scientific methods to produce valid results e.g. high variable control, objectivity,
+ resulted in effective therapy for phobias e.g. systematic desensitisation or flooding
- both Pavlov and Skinner used animals in their studies, meaning the results cannot be generalised to humans as there are too many genetic differences
- the approach is reductionist, taking the nurture side of the nature vs nurture debate and completely ignoring genetic influences

	Created by Emily Cushlow over 10 years ago

Wundt, Behavioural, SLT, Cognitive and Biological