The Behavioural Model was a reaction to Freud's unscientific, untestable and unfalsifiable model, based as it was on unobservable subconscious thoughts. Instead, behaviourists like Pavlov, Watson and Skinner based their theories (in the first half of the 20th century) purely on directly observable stimul and responses (in Classical Conditioning), behaviours and reinforcers (in Operant Conditioning). Because they assumed that humans and other animals learn in the same way, and that genes are not relevant to behaviour, they could conduct highly controlled, scientific experiments on dogs, rats and pigeons to support their theories.
Download Behavioural Model presentation here.
The Cognitive Model, developed later when psychologists had computers as a model for the mind, assumes that thoughts and beliefs can and should be studied, but focuses on conscious thinking and memory unlike psychodynamic theories.
Donload Cognitive Model presentation here.
Homework essay: "Compare and contrast the behavioural and cognitivemodels of abnormalty" 12 marks AO1 + 12 marks AO2
This needs to be a double-length essay, showing that you understand the models and their strengths and limitations, but also that you can draw out similarities and differences between them. What do they have in common, both in terms of assumptions and good and bad points? You will lose marks if you simple describe and evaluate the two models without doing this.
Due on Tuesday 1st February
There will be a test on Definitions and Models of abnormality on Monday 24th January.
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