Question

1) Explain the contributions and limitations of behaviorism and social learning theory to the scientific study of human development.

Answer 1

Contributions of behaviorism can be seen in terms of the effect it tends to have on its applications. That in fact turns out as an evidence to it's far reaching positive consequences. It played a role in the diagnosis and thereafter intervention of patients with disorders or neurological conditions. Especially in cases of autism, children could be taught life skills and helped to acquire other daily living skills with the help of behaviorism. However the limitations were seen in terms of making learning an entirely mechanical process, instead of a complex one which includes use of cognition and thinking skills. Similarly, social learning theory could explain many phenomena and aspects of human behavior such as the impact of childhood experiences on the personality development during adulthood. Learning through observation was seen as the most potent form of learning even in case of animal subjects. However it's limitations were seen in terms of failure to explain more complex behaviors that cannot be simply learned through watching. Both of these theories played a major role in impacting how human development was studied scientifically, since experiments and comprehensive assessments along the leads provided by the two theories made major contributions in how it showcased later.