The behaviourist approach: assumptions, application to the formation of relationships, the therapy of systematic desensitisation, the classic study of Watson and Rayner (1920), and evaluation.

What this dot point is asking

For the behaviourist approach you must state its assumptions, apply it to the formation of relationships, describe its therapy (systematic desensitisation), describe the classic study of Watson and Rayner (1920) (Little Albert), and evaluate it. The two types of conditioning are the core knowledge, so define both precisely.

Assumptions

The approach rests on these assumptions:

• Only observable behaviour matters. Internal mental processes cannot be measured objectively, so they are ignored; the mind is a "black box".
• The blank slate. We are born with no innate behaviour, and the environment shapes everything we do.
• Classical conditioning. Learning by association. A neutral stimulus (NS) paired repeatedly with an unconditioned stimulus (UCS) that produces an unconditioned response (UCR) becomes a conditioned stimulus (CS) that produces a conditioned response (CR), as in Pavlov's dogs salivating to a bell.
• Operant conditioning. Learning by consequences. Positive reinforcement (adding a reward) and negative reinforcement (removing something unpleasant) both increase a behaviour, while punishment decreases it, as in Skinner's rats pressing a lever.
• Continuity across species. The laws of learning are the same in all animals, justifying the study of behaviour in animals.

Application to the formation of relationships

The behaviourist approach explains relationships through learning, not biology or the unconscious. By classical conditioning, a partner becomes associated with pleasant experiences, so they become a conditioned stimulus that triggers positive feelings. By operant conditioning, a relationship is rewarding: a partner provides positive reinforcement (affection, approval) and negative reinforcement (relieving loneliness), so we maintain it. This is the reinforcement-affect account of attraction.

Therapy: systematic desensitisation

The therapy is systematic desensitisation (SD), used mainly for phobias and based on classical conditioning. Because a phobia is a learned association between a stimulus and fear, it can be unlearned by associating the stimulus with relaxation instead (counter-conditioning). The patient first learns relaxation techniques, then builds an anxiety hierarchy from least to most frightening situations, and finally works up the hierarchy while staying relaxed, because fear and relaxation cannot occur at once (reciprocal inhibition). Once relaxed at the top of the hierarchy, the phobia is gone.

SD is effective, relatively quick and less traumatic than flooding, a real-world strength, but works best for specific phobias and less well for disorders without a clear learned cause.

Classic study: Watson and Rayner (1920)

The study fits the approach because it shows a fear being learned through association in a controlled setting. Its weaknesses are severe ethical problems (distressing a baby and reportedly not removing the fear) and a single-participant design that does not generalise.

Evaluation

Examples in context

Example 1. A token economy. A teacher gives a sticker (positive reinforcement) for tidying up and the behaviour increases, an everyday operant example of shaping behaviour.

Example 2. A learned phobia of dogs. A child bitten by a dog associates dogs with fear (classical conditioning) and avoids them, which relieves anxiety (negative reinforcement) and maintains the phobia; systematic desensitisation could unlearn it.

Try this

Q1. State what is meant by the "blank slate" assumption. [1 mark]

• Cue. We are born with no innate behaviour; all behaviour is learned from the environment.

Q2. Outline the steps of systematic desensitisation. [3 marks]

• Cue. Learn relaxation, build an anxiety hierarchy, then work up the hierarchy while staying relaxed so fear is replaced by relaxation.

Q3. Explain one strength and one weakness of using Watson and Rayner (1920) as evidence for the behaviourist approach. [4 marks]

• Cue. Strength: controlled demonstration that emotion can be conditioned. Weakness: a single participant and serious ethical problems, so it neither generalises nor was ethically acceptable.