What is the behaviourist model of understanding mental health and illness?
Assuming this is some kind of homework/research, you need to look under the general heading of learning theory. You’ll find that behaviourists consider that mental health problems can be learned in some way (and can therefore be unlearned). They are interested in overt behaviours – ones that can be seen, measured and tested (as opposed to ideas about the unconscious etc). Have a look at different aspects of learning theory including classical conditioning, operant conditioning, both of which deal with stimuli in the environment and responses to them, as well as social learning theory. All three aspects of behaviourism are interesting as far as mental health problems are concerned, particularly anxiety disorders for example. Treatments are based on learning theory (e.g. behaviour therapy, behaviour modification, token economy, modelling) and may also be combined with aspects of the cognitive approach (e.g. CBT).
