The Behaviourist Explanation of Mental Illness - Summary
Behaviourists believe that our actions and behaviour are determined by our environment,
which supports the nurture debate of psychology
The behavioural approach focuses on how abnormal behaviour is learned through classical
conditioning, operant conditioning and social learning theory
Classic Conditioning
Learning behaviour through association
Two stimuli are linked together to form a new response
This can account for the development of phobias
The feared object is associated with a fear or anxiety from past experiences
The conditioned stimulus produces a fear response characterised by the avoidance
of the feared object and the emotion of fear when an individual encounters that
object
Operant Conditioning
Learning through rewards and punishments for behaviour
Behaviour is repeated if it is rewarded previously
Learning environments can reinforce problematic behaviours
e.g. A child may be rewarded for completing their homework, and will continue
doing their homework later on to receive another reward
Social Learning Theory
Behaviour is learned through observation and imitation of role models in the environment
surrounding the individual, specifically as a child
e.g. Violent video games played by children are suggested to increase their
likelihood of committing crime in later life
Treatment
Systematic Desensitisation
Based on the principle of classical conditioning
Used to treat phobias
Involves reverse counter-conditioning to unlearn the response associated with the phobia
The client and therapist develop a fear hierarchy in order from least to most fearful
Relaxation techniques are taught, where individuals are exposed to the fearful object or
situation once they are relaxed
Two emotional states cannot exist at the same time – reciprocal inhibition
Relaxation overtakes the fear
Patient starts at bottom of fear hierarchy, then works their way up until they are relaxed at
the most fearful object/situation
Behaviourists believe that our actions and behaviour are determined by our environment,
which supports the nurture debate of psychology
The behavioural approach focuses on how abnormal behaviour is learned through classical
conditioning, operant conditioning and social learning theory
Classic Conditioning
Learning behaviour through association
Two stimuli are linked together to form a new response
This can account for the development of phobias
The feared object is associated with a fear or anxiety from past experiences
The conditioned stimulus produces a fear response characterised by the avoidance
of the feared object and the emotion of fear when an individual encounters that
object
Operant Conditioning
Learning through rewards and punishments for behaviour
Behaviour is repeated if it is rewarded previously
Learning environments can reinforce problematic behaviours
e.g. A child may be rewarded for completing their homework, and will continue
doing their homework later on to receive another reward
Social Learning Theory
Behaviour is learned through observation and imitation of role models in the environment
surrounding the individual, specifically as a child
e.g. Violent video games played by children are suggested to increase their
likelihood of committing crime in later life
Treatment
Systematic Desensitisation
Based on the principle of classical conditioning
Used to treat phobias
Involves reverse counter-conditioning to unlearn the response associated with the phobia
The client and therapist develop a fear hierarchy in order from least to most fearful
Relaxation techniques are taught, where individuals are exposed to the fearful object or
situation once they are relaxed
Two emotional states cannot exist at the same time – reciprocal inhibition
Relaxation overtakes the fear
Patient starts at bottom of fear hierarchy, then works their way up until they are relaxed at
the most fearful object/situation
