Describe And Evaluate Behaviourism Including 2 Behavioural Therapies
Describe and evaluate behaviourism including 2 behavioural therapies
The OED defines behaviourism as “the theory that human and animal behaviour can be explained in terms of conditioning, without appeal to thoughts or feelings, and that psychological disorders are best treated by altering behaviour patterns.”
The behaviourist approach has roots in the philosophy of empiricism which is the view that all concepts originate in experience, i.e. all concepts are about or applicable to things that can be experienced. This school of thought is that all humans are 'tabula rosa' at birth (i.e. the mind is a blank slate) and that personality is shaped through the experiences of the individual. Early behavioural psychologists believed that psychology should be scientific and objective and should be based on observable behaviour. Up until early part of the 20th century, introspection was a popular approach …show more content…
In exchange for desirable behaviour, the person will receive rewards in the form of tokens, which can be exchanged for goods, outings or privileges” (Cardwell M, et al, 2002)
The tokens are secondary reinforcers and are cashed in for primary reinforcement rewards later in time. Token programmes are successful within an institutional setting. Ayllon and Azrin were instrumental in this form of behaviour management within a long term clinical setting “An attempt was made to strengthen behaviors of psychotics by applying operant reinforcement principles in a mental hospital ward. The behaviors studied were necessary and/or useful for the patient to function in the hospital environment. Reinforcement consisted of the opportunity to engage in activities that had a high level of occurrence when freely allowed. Tokens were used as conditioned reinforcers to bridge the delay between behavior and
The OED defines behaviourism as “the theory that human and animal behaviour can be explained in terms of conditioning, without appeal to thoughts or feelings, and that psychological disorders are best treated by altering behaviour patterns.”
The behaviourist approach has roots in the philosophy of empiricism which is the view that all concepts originate in experience, i.e. all concepts are about or applicable to things that can be experienced. This school of thought is that all humans are 'tabula rosa' at birth (i.e. the mind is a blank slate) and that personality is shaped through the experiences of the individual. Early behavioural psychologists believed that psychology should be scientific and objective and should be based on observable behaviour. Up until early part of the 20th century, introspection was a popular approach …show more content…
In exchange for desirable behaviour, the person will receive rewards in the form of tokens, which can be exchanged for goods, outings or privileges” (Cardwell M, et al, 2002)
The tokens are secondary reinforcers and are cashed in for primary reinforcement rewards later in time. Token programmes are successful within an institutional setting. Ayllon and Azrin were instrumental in this form of behaviour management within a long term clinical setting “An attempt was made to strengthen behaviors of psychotics by applying operant reinforcement principles in a mental hospital ward. The behaviors studied were necessary and/or useful for the patient to function in the hospital environment. Reinforcement consisted of the opportunity to engage in activities that had a high level of occurrence when freely allowed. Tokens were used as conditioned reinforcers to bridge the delay between behavior and