Outline a weakness of the behaviorist approach in Psychology

A weakness is that the approach is environmentally deterministic. For example, it suggests behaviours are learnt through associations made with environmental stimuli and/or the response that we get (reinforcement). This view states that the environment controls our behaviour and that it is not our conscious thought and processes that governs behaviour.Furthermore, it adopts a purely nature side of the nature-nurture debate in psychology, as it does not believe that our biology or genetics play a role in behaviour. However, there has been evidence from biological psychologists and adoption studies which show that genes have an influencing factor with environment. In addition, it can then be said to be environmentally reductionist, as it just breaks behaviour down into one component part, learning through association and consequences. This matters because it means that for behaviour, a more holistic approach needs to be undertaken in order to fully explain the complexity of human behaviour, involving cognition, and also the influence of biology, and therefore adopting an interactionist approach, appreciating how they work together. However, it can be said that reductionism is a strength because it allows for behaviour to be examined in isolation from other factors, increasing the validity of the research.