Evaluate the behaviourist approach

Evaluating the Behaviourist Approach

Empirical Evidence: The behaviourist approach has strong empirical support with numerous laboratory experiments conducted by behaviourists such as Pavlov and Skinner. This strengthens the credibility of the approach as it provides visible data for behaviours, showcasing the cause and effect relationship.
Real-world Application: The principles of conditioning have been successfully applied in real-life situations, like behaviour modification programmes and behavioural therapies. For example, systematic desensitisation, based on the principles of classical conditioning, is widely used in treating phobias and anxieties.
Determinist nature: The behaviourist approach explains human behaviour as predictable and controllable, a stand that contrasts with freewill. This deterministic view has been criticised by some, but it brings with it the idea that behaviour can be modified or reconditioned, which is beneficial in treatments for disorders.

Over-reliance on Animal Research: A lot of the experimental research in behaviourism is conducted using animals. While it provides controlled conditions, the human mind and behaviour is complex and might not be accurately represented in animal studies.
Ignores Mental Processes: The behaviourist approach fails to account for processes that occur within the mind, focusing on an overt behaviour instead of unseen cognitive processes. Many critics argue that this is a significant flaw, as cognitive psychology has shown that mental processes play a crucial role in our understanding of human behaviour.
Lack of free will: Some argue that behaviourism too adamantly advocates determinism, disregarding the concept of free will altogether. This strict stance may not fully encapsulate individuality in human behaviour, which is influenced not just by the environment but also by our capacity to make conscious decisions.

In contrast to the biological approach, which supports the idea that behaviour is influenced by genetic factors, the behaviourist approach aligns itself firmly with the nurture side of the nature vs nurture debate. It proposes that all behaviour is learnt from the environment, ignoring the potential impact of inherited factors on behaviour entirely. This limited view can be criticised as overly simplistic. It has been suggested that a more accurate approach would consider an interaction of both genetic and environmental factors in shaping behaviour.