Behavioural and Cognitive Approach to Abnormality

“Outline and evaluate the behavioural approach to abnormality’

A01 marks

The behavioural approach is concerned with the study of observable, measurable behaviour only. It does not study mental phenomena, such as emotions or thoughts. It believes that all behaviour is learnt nothing is innate. The approach believes that both abnormal and normal behaviours are learnt. Therefore no behaviour is fixed, and what is learned can also be unlearned. This can be used to therapy to help cure abnormal behaviour. All behaviour is learned through the process of operant and classical conditioning. This model is largely based on the work of BF Skinner and John Watson. It was developed in the 1920s, in an attempt to make psychology more scientific. It believes that human learn in the same way as other animals, and so much behavioural research is carried out using animals such as rats and pigeons.

A02 marks

The behavioural approach overcomes the ethical issue raised by the medical model of labelling and thereby stigmatizing someone as ‘abnormal’. Instead, the behavioural model concentrates on behaviour and whether is ‘maladaptive’ or ‘adaptive’. The behavioural approach is easy to test as you can see behaviour. Also there is research evidence, such as BF Skinner with the rat and the pigeon and John Watson with ‘little Albert’.

However the approach is accused of being reductionist and simplistic; it only focuses on symptoms and ignores the causes of abnormal behaviour. Also it ignores the roles of biology and emotional thinking which is an important aspect that should be included and there’s unethical testing on animals.

“Outline and evaluate the behavioural approach to abnormality’

A01 marks

All behaviour, whether normal, or abnormal, is caused by your style of cognition. Aaron Beck established this model in the 1960s. Mental illnesses are therefore caused by irrational, maladaptive and negative patterns of cognitions (this negative pattern of thinking is illustrated...