History & Systems of Psychology
Chapters 12 & 13 -Behaviorism
Background of Behaviorism
Objective psychology (study of measurable phenomena) already well developed in
Russia.
Structuralists used introspection but wanted a pure science; functionalists used
introspection and observation of human behavior and wanted an applied science.
Some functionalists (i.e. Cattell) wanted a more scientific method and drifted
toward behaviorism because it used scientific research but was also practical in
application.
Early Behaviorism—Ivan Pavlov
Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936)—
Research on digestion led to Nobel Prize and also led to discovery of the
conditioned reflex.
Classical Conditioning
UCS – UCR, CS + UCS –CR
Pavlov believed he had discovered the physical mechanism underlying
associationism.
He had little respect for psychologists, except for Thorndike.
Early Behaviorism—Edward Thorndike
Edward Thorndike (1874-1949)
Puzzle boxes
Connectionism – concern with how neural connections or bonds between sensory
impression and responses change their strength as a function of experience
Law of Effect – psychology’s first major law of learning
Behavior is strengthened when followed by a “satisfying” effect
John Watson and American Behaviorism
Watson (1878-1958)—work at Johns Hopkins until 1920 established new field of
behaviorism; after 1920 Watson was very successful in advertising
All behavior is conditioned (learned), and the rules which govern learning can
be studied scientifically and articulated.
The goal of psychology is to “predict & control behavior.” (not interested in
consciousness)
John Watson and American Behaviorism, cont.
Stimulus-response model
Believed Thorndike’s law of effect to be unnecessarily mentalistic
By 1920s, Thorndike & Watson represented two major views of behaviorism
Thorndike’s law of effect (i.e., reinforcement of behavior)
Watson’s reliance on associative principles of contiguity & frequency
John Watson and American Behaviorism, cont.
Famous experiments:
Little Albert experiment – thought showed how emotions are learned
Peter & the rabbit –eliminated fear through counterconditioning; first example
of behavior therapy
Watson was a radical behaviorist; those following him tended to be less extreme,
allowing for the existence of cognitive or physiological influences on behavior.
Behaviorism—William McDougall
William McDougall (1871-1938)—Unlike Russians & Watson, who studied reflexive
behavior, McDougall was interested in purposive behavior.
Saw behavior as goal-directed and stimulated by some instinct or internal motive
rather than by environmental events; also as reinforced by need reduction
Purposive behavior is spontaneous, persistent, & varied (in types of behavior
used), and it ends when the goal is reached.
Debate with Watson in 1924
Neobehaviorism - Definitions
Positivism
Logical positivism
Observational terms
Theoretical terms
Operational definition
Operationism
Physicalism
Neobehaviorism
Neobehaviorism: resulted from combination of behaviorism and logical positivism
Characteristics:
Theories must be tied to observables & all terms operationally defined
Use of nonhuman research subjects (easier and thought to have very similar
learning processes)
The learning process considered to be of primary importance, because it is how
organisms adapt
Neobehaviorism— Edward Tolman
Edward Tolman (1886-1959)—His purposive behaviorism considered role of cognition
and purpose in behavior
Intervening variables—psychological processes mediate between stimulus &
response (S-IV-R)
Classic experiments on latent learning and cognitive map(S-S rather than S-R
connections)
Learning not mechanistic, trial & error, but is marked by discontinuities,
insight
B.F. Skinner & Operant Conditioning
B. F. Skinner (1904-1990)—radical behaviorist, advocated study of behavior
alone, not the mind or mental events like “thinking” or “choosing”
Not interested in reflexive (respondent) behavior; like Thorndike, focus was on
operant behavior (behavior which operates on the environment to produce certain
consequences)
B.F. Skinner & Operant Conditioning, cont.
Operant conditioning—behavior is modified by reinforcement which follows it
Not interested in S-R relationships or involuntary behaviors (such as
salivation)
Behavior is strengthened by reinforcement
Positive reinforcement
Negative reinforcement
Behavior is weakened by punishment
Applications of Skinner’s Principles
General rule: If you change reinforcement contingencies, you also change
behavior.
Behavior modification techniques used with broad range of problems: smoking,
alcoholism, shyness, phobias, etc.
Also very useful in working with animals, children, mentally retarded persons
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