Behavioural Psychology
Have you always wondered why people behave the way they do? Come and learn how we behave in certain ways based on our environment.
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Description
Behavioural Psychology is an area of psychology that focuses on observing and measuring behaviours. Behavioural psychology suggests that environment shapes human behaviour. Concepts and theories covered in behavioural psychology are applied in psychotherapy and education.
Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) is a scientific method in psychology that focuses on understanding behaviour. The principles used in ABA help people to learn about how behaviour changes, what role environment plays and how we learn to behave in a certain way. ABA aims to improve and develop socially important behaviours (e.g., academic skills, communication etc.) and decrease unwanted behaviours (e.g., smoking) by implementing behavioural strategies and environmental modifications.
Expected learning outcomes
- Learn key principles behind behavioural changes (e.g., punishments and reinforcements)
- Students will be able to apply their knowledge to explain their own behaviour and behaviours of others (e.g., behaviour of their colleagues, friends and children)
- Understand how environment can contribute to mental health
- Learn how to develop new skills and decrease unwanted behaviours.
Course outline
- Introduction to Behavioural Psychology (e.g., What is behavioural psychology? Brief history and key ideas)
- Respondent and operant conditioning (e.g., how environmental stimuli can affect human behaviour)
- Schedules of reinforcement and generalisation (e.g., how to use reinforcement to shape behaviour)
- Interventions to decrease problem behaviour (e.g., how reinforcement and punishment can be used to decrease unwanted behaviour)
- Application of behavioural analysis in the real world (e.g., education, treatment of autism and drug addiction)
- Cognitive and behavioural therapies (e.g., how behavioural psychology explains and treats mental disorders)
