Evaluating the behaviourist approach


	Evaluating the behaviourist appr
	Advantages Controlled research - measure observable behaviours in laboratory settings. This removes any extraneous variables affecting the research validity. This allows cause and effect to be established and give scientific credibility. Real world applications - operant conditioning has helped to develop a token economy in prisons and hospitals, etc. This shows the behaviourist approach has beneficial practical applications	Disadvantages Countering controlled research - behaviours may have been oversimplified, reductionist approach. Learning is more complex than observable behaviours and is therefore an incomplete way of explaining behaviours and learning. Environmental determinism - all behaviour is seen as a result of conditioning. This ignores the idea of free will and decision making, which restricts the application of the behaviourist approach. Ethical issues - animal studies are usually unethical due to lack of consent and often abuse.
	Evaluation The behaviourist approach is a good way of explaining some behaviours, however this is not a comprehensive explanation.m

Controlled research - measure observable behaviours in laboratory settings. This removes any extraneous variables affecting the research validity. This allows cause and effect to be established and give scientific credibility.
Real world applications - operant conditioning has helped to develop a token economy in prisons and hospitals, etc. This shows the behaviourist approach has beneficial practical applications

Countering controlled research - behaviours may have been oversimplified, reductionist approach. Learning is more complex than observable behaviours and is therefore an incomplete way of explaining behaviours and learning.
Environmental determinism - all behaviour is seen as a result of conditioning. This ignores the idea of free will and decision making, which restricts the application of the behaviourist approach.
Ethical issues - animal studies are usually unethical due to lack of consent and often abuse.

The behaviourist approach is a good way of explaining some behaviours, however this is not a comprehensive explanation.m

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