Component 1 revision
,Behaviourist approach
,Behaviourist assumptions
Assumption 1: Humans are born like a blank slate
Behaviourists believe that when we are born our mind is a ‘tabula rasa’ which is the Latin term for blank slate.
The traditional behaviourist approach believes that we are not born with in-build mental processes and instead behaviour is learned from our
interactions with the environment. They believe that we do not think about our behaviour, instead we respond passively to the environment. They
support the idea of nature over nurture, adopting the view that the environment has the greatest impact on our behaviour. Traditional theory lies at
the extreme end of the nature-nurture debate ignoring any genetic or evolutionary factors. Environmental determinism - behaviour is determined by
the environment we grew up in and associations we make early on in life as well as early rewards and punishment. These pre-determine our later
reactions to people and situations.
Assumption 2: Humans and animals learn in similar ways
The behaviourist approach assumes that the laws of learning are the same for both humans and non-human animals.
Studies conducted to investigate animal learning in a laboratory are used to make generalisations about human behaviour. Pavlov developed the
principles of classical conditioning through his study of dogs.
These principles have been applied in behaviourist therapies to overcome problems such as phobias through the use of systematic desensitisation.
Operant conditioning principles that were developed in the confinements of a laboratory with animals (e.g. Skinner’s work with rats) are applied in
many contexts (e.g prisons and education). Token economy systems are a classic example of the use of operant conditioning principles. Behaviour is
reinforced with tokens that can be exchanged for rewards.
Assumption 3: Behaviour learned through conditioning
Classical Conditioning Operant Conditioning
New behaviours are learnt through association. Behaviours are learnt through reinforcement.
Ian Pavlov (1902) first described the process in dogs. B.F Skinner (1936) demonstrated via the Skinner
Before conditioning the food is an unconditioned Box in which animals are rewarded for a certain
stimulus and salivation is the unconditioned actions. First the animal may accidently perform
response. The bell sounds (neutral stimulus) with the action. As the behaviour is reinforced the
the UCS and association occurs. After conditioning animal is more likely to repeat the behaviour
The bell is now the conditioned stimulus which (positive reinforcement). Negative
produces a new conditioned response (salivation). reinforcement strengthens behaviour as it involves unpleasant actions.
,Systematic desensitisation
What is systematic desensitisation?
Systematic desensitisation is a treatment for phobias in which the patient is exposed to progressively more
anxiety-provoking stimuli and taught relaxation techniques. It was developed by Joseph Wolpe in the 1950s.
How do the assumptions of the behaviourist approach apply to systematic desensitisation?
The main assumption of the behaviourist approach is that all behaviour is learnt and therefore can be ‘unlearnt’ through
classical or operant conditioning. The behaviourist approach assumes that most mental illness occur through
maladaptive or faulty learning; therefore a person can re-learn how to behave in a more functional and healthy way
(behaviour modification).
Systematic desensitisation is based on classical conditioning (stimulus-response association). It is based on the idea of
counterconditioning, where a client has learnt to associate an object with being relaxed rather than anxious. Reciprocal
inhibition suggests that we cannot feel both at the same time. Operant conditioning principles also feature- when the
client feels relaxed this is rewarding and it encourages the client to continue (positive reinforcement).
Main components of systematic desensitisation :
Counter conditioning
The process begins with learning relaxation techniques. The aim is to acquire a new stimulus response link. Instead of
responding with fear, the response is relaxation. This association is taught to counter the original association. Wolpe
called this ‘reciprocal inhibition’ - the relaxation inhibits the anxiety.
Desensitisation hierarchy
Learning proceeds through a series of graduals steps that are determined at the start of the therapy - from least feared
to most feared.
Different forms of SD
In the early days, clients would confront fears directly (in vivo desensitisation). In more recent years, the Therapist may
ask them to imagine the presence of it (in vitro/covert). Menzies and Clarke (1993) - in vivo is more successful.
, Systematic desensitisation - evaluation
Effectiveness
Strengths :
Research support
Generally successful when the problem is learned, e.g. specific phobias.
Capafóns et al. (1988) - after 12-25 weeks of SD, clients with a fear of flying showed less physiological signs of fear and
reported lower fear levels whilst in a flight simulator.
Weaknesses :
Not appropriate for all phobias
May not be effective for more ‘ancient fears’. Seligman (1970) - animals and humans are not programmed to quickly learn
association between life-threatening stimuli and fear. Biological preparedness may explain why we are scared of items
that were a danger in our evolutionary past.
Symptom substitution
Behavioural therapies may not work with some phobias as it may only be the tip of the iceberg and the symptoms may
resurface in another form. E.g. Little Hans. Treating symptoms rather than causes.
Ethical issues :
Anxiety controlled: SD is considered more ethical than other behavioural therapies as exposure is conducted slowly. This
means that the therapist is able to assess whether the client is fully relaxed at each stage and will only move on when the
client is comfortable.
Able to provide valid consent: SD is mainly used with phobias and not with other mental disorders - clients are healthy
enough to provide valid consent. Clients attend sessions at their own free will. This is the mental illness that has the
most important recognition in society. This would be relieved by the impact on people in the western society. This would
also look at the most impact in people and the fact that people would need to be impacted.
,Behaviourist approach
,Behaviourist assumptions
Assumption 1: Humans are born like a blank slate
Behaviourists believe that when we are born our mind is a ‘tabula rasa’ which is the Latin term for blank slate.
The traditional behaviourist approach believes that we are not born with in-build mental processes and instead behaviour is learned from our
interactions with the environment. They believe that we do not think about our behaviour, instead we respond passively to the environment. They
support the idea of nature over nurture, adopting the view that the environment has the greatest impact on our behaviour. Traditional theory lies at
the extreme end of the nature-nurture debate ignoring any genetic or evolutionary factors. Environmental determinism - behaviour is determined by
the environment we grew up in and associations we make early on in life as well as early rewards and punishment. These pre-determine our later
reactions to people and situations.
Assumption 2: Humans and animals learn in similar ways
The behaviourist approach assumes that the laws of learning are the same for both humans and non-human animals.
Studies conducted to investigate animal learning in a laboratory are used to make generalisations about human behaviour. Pavlov developed the
principles of classical conditioning through his study of dogs.
These principles have been applied in behaviourist therapies to overcome problems such as phobias through the use of systematic desensitisation.
Operant conditioning principles that were developed in the confinements of a laboratory with animals (e.g. Skinner’s work with rats) are applied in
many contexts (e.g prisons and education). Token economy systems are a classic example of the use of operant conditioning principles. Behaviour is
reinforced with tokens that can be exchanged for rewards.
Assumption 3: Behaviour learned through conditioning
Classical Conditioning Operant Conditioning
New behaviours are learnt through association. Behaviours are learnt through reinforcement.
Ian Pavlov (1902) first described the process in dogs. B.F Skinner (1936) demonstrated via the Skinner
Before conditioning the food is an unconditioned Box in which animals are rewarded for a certain
stimulus and salivation is the unconditioned actions. First the animal may accidently perform
response. The bell sounds (neutral stimulus) with the action. As the behaviour is reinforced the
the UCS and association occurs. After conditioning animal is more likely to repeat the behaviour
The bell is now the conditioned stimulus which (positive reinforcement). Negative
produces a new conditioned response (salivation). reinforcement strengthens behaviour as it involves unpleasant actions.
,Systematic desensitisation
What is systematic desensitisation?
Systematic desensitisation is a treatment for phobias in which the patient is exposed to progressively more
anxiety-provoking stimuli and taught relaxation techniques. It was developed by Joseph Wolpe in the 1950s.
How do the assumptions of the behaviourist approach apply to systematic desensitisation?
The main assumption of the behaviourist approach is that all behaviour is learnt and therefore can be ‘unlearnt’ through
classical or operant conditioning. The behaviourist approach assumes that most mental illness occur through
maladaptive or faulty learning; therefore a person can re-learn how to behave in a more functional and healthy way
(behaviour modification).
Systematic desensitisation is based on classical conditioning (stimulus-response association). It is based on the idea of
counterconditioning, where a client has learnt to associate an object with being relaxed rather than anxious. Reciprocal
inhibition suggests that we cannot feel both at the same time. Operant conditioning principles also feature- when the
client feels relaxed this is rewarding and it encourages the client to continue (positive reinforcement).
Main components of systematic desensitisation :
Counter conditioning
The process begins with learning relaxation techniques. The aim is to acquire a new stimulus response link. Instead of
responding with fear, the response is relaxation. This association is taught to counter the original association. Wolpe
called this ‘reciprocal inhibition’ - the relaxation inhibits the anxiety.
Desensitisation hierarchy
Learning proceeds through a series of graduals steps that are determined at the start of the therapy - from least feared
to most feared.
Different forms of SD
In the early days, clients would confront fears directly (in vivo desensitisation). In more recent years, the Therapist may
ask them to imagine the presence of it (in vitro/covert). Menzies and Clarke (1993) - in vivo is more successful.
, Systematic desensitisation - evaluation
Effectiveness
Strengths :
Research support
Generally successful when the problem is learned, e.g. specific phobias.
Capafóns et al. (1988) - after 12-25 weeks of SD, clients with a fear of flying showed less physiological signs of fear and
reported lower fear levels whilst in a flight simulator.
Weaknesses :
Not appropriate for all phobias
May not be effective for more ‘ancient fears’. Seligman (1970) - animals and humans are not programmed to quickly learn
association between life-threatening stimuli and fear. Biological preparedness may explain why we are scared of items
that were a danger in our evolutionary past.
Symptom substitution
Behavioural therapies may not work with some phobias as it may only be the tip of the iceberg and the symptoms may
resurface in another form. E.g. Little Hans. Treating symptoms rather than causes.
Ethical issues :
Anxiety controlled: SD is considered more ethical than other behavioural therapies as exposure is conducted slowly. This
means that the therapist is able to assess whether the client is fully relaxed at each stage and will only move on when the
client is comfortable.
Able to provide valid consent: SD is mainly used with phobias and not with other mental disorders - clients are healthy
enough to provide valid consent. Clients attend sessions at their own free will. This is the mental illness that has the
most important recognition in society. This would be relieved by the impact on people in the western society. This would
also look at the most impact in people and the fact that people would need to be impacted.
