This module looks at behaviourism and the seminal psychological studies carried out at the turn of the 20th century. These early studies, many of which would not have been permitted today, allowed psychologists and psychiatrists to start to theorise about how and why we learn new behaviours and acquire knowledge.
We will also consider the cognitive approach and how understanding human behaviour is perhaps more complex than some of the early theories developed from animal models. Over time, such findings and theories have contributed to the development of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which is recommended as a first-line treatment for many of the mood disorders that we see today in our everyday work.
