History of Psychology - Behaviorism

Learning Objective 1

Identify key researchers and ideas espoused by the behaviorist school in psychology.

Learning Objective 2

Discuss the origins and main principles of classic and operant conditioning.

Learning Objective 3

Discuss the impact and reach of behaviorism in both theoretical and applied psychology.

John B. Watson (Key Bio)

(1878-1958). Studied under functionalist John Dewey. APA President (1915). Fired from Johns Hopkins (1920) due to affair with Rosalie Rayner; worked in advertisement.

Watson's "Behaviorist Manifesto" (1913)

"Psychology as the behaviorist views it." (Published in Psychological Review).

Watson's View of Psychology

"A purely objective experimental branch of natural science."

Goal of Behaviorism (Watson)

"Its theoretical goal is the prediction and control of behavior."

Watson's Stance on Introspection

"Introspection forms no essential part of its methods."

Watson's Stance on Humans vs. Animals

"[The behaviorist] recognizes no dividing line between man and brute."

Core Thesis of Behaviorism (Watson)

Psychology failed as a science by focusing on "conscious phenomena" and "introspection." It should be objective, like chemistry or physics.

Behaviorism & Consciousness

It can "dispense with consciousness in a psychological sense." Eliminating it removes the barrier between psychology and other natural sciences.

Karl Popper's Critique of Behaviorism

"A very understandable reaction… clearly wrong, even though irrefutable."

Classical Conditioning (Definition)

A learning process where a previously neutral stimulus (CS) is paired with an unconditioned stimulus (US) until the CS elicits a conditioned response (CR).

Classical Conditioning (Pavlov Example)

"CS: Bell (neutral)

US: Food (potent)

UR: Salivation (to food)

CR: Salivation (to bell)"

"Little Albert" Experiment (Watson & Rayner, 1920)

A case study (9-11 month old) demonstrating classical conditioning of fear.

"Little Albert" (Method)

"Neutral Stimulus: White rat

Unconditioned Stimulus: Loud noise (steel bar hit with hammer)

Unconditioned Response: Fear (crying)"

"Little Albert" (Result)

"Conditioned Stimulus: White rat

Conditioned Response: Fear (crying)

The fear also generalized to similar stimuli (e.g., white beard)."

Watson's View on Phobias (vs. Freud)

Phobias are "true conditioned emotional reactions." He argued fear is as primal as love (sex), directly challenging the Freudian focus on sex as the principal source of neurosis.

Edward Thorndike (Method)

Used "puzzle boxes" where trapped animals (e.g., cats) had to press/pull levers to escape.

Law of Effect (Thorndike, 1905)

"Responses that produce a satisfying effect… become more likely to occur… responses that produce a discomforting effect become less likely to occur…"

Clark Hull (Goal)

The "quantification and formalisation" of experimental results into a mathematical description of learning.

Clark Hull's Formula

sER​=sHR​×D×V×K

Clark Hull's Formula (Components)

"sER​: Excitatory potential (likelihood of response)

sHR​: Habit strength

D: Drive strength (e.g., hours of deprivation)

V: Stimulus intensity

K: Incentive (appeal of the result)"

B.F. Skinner (Key Bio)

(1904-1990). PhD from Harvard (1931). Professor at Harvard (1948). Focused on operant conditioning.

Operant Conditioning (Definition)

A learning process in which behavior is sensitive to, or controlled by, its consequences.

Classical vs. Operant Conditioning

"Classical: Pairs a neutral stimulus with an existing (innate) response.

Operant: Pairs a consequence (reinforcement/punishment) with a new (voluntary) behavior."

Reinforcement (Goal)

Increase a behavior.

Punishment (Goal)

Decrease a behavior.

Positive Reinforcement

"Increases behavior by adding an appetitive (good) stimulus.

(Example: Giving a treat when the dog sits)."

Negative Reinforcement

"Increases behavior by removing a noxious (bad) stimulus.

(Example: Turning off an alarm clock by pressing snooze)."

Positive Punishment

"Decreases behavior by adding a noxious (bad) stimulus.

(Example: Spanking a child for cursing)."

Negative Punishment

"Decreases behavior by removing an appetitive (good) stimulus.

(Example: Telling the child to go to his room for cursing)."

Application: "Walden Two" (Skinner, 1948)

A novel suggesting how principles of operant conditioning could be used to shape and design ideal societies.

Application: Joseph Wolpe

A South African psychiatrist influential in behavior therapy.

Application: Systematic Desensitization (Wolpe)

A technique (based on classical conditioning) to overcome phobias by gradually exposing a person to low-level, then stronger, versions of the feared stimulus.

Impact of Behaviorists (Korn et al., 1991)

"Chairpersons' Ranking: #1 Skinner, #8 Watson

Historians' Ranking: #4 Watson, #8 Skinner. (Showed huge eminence)."

Summary: Watson

Focused on classical conditioning; used "Little Albert" as a marketing tool against psychoanalysis.

Summary: Hull

Focused on quantification and a mathematical description of learning (drive, habit, incentive, etc.).

Summary: Skinner

Focused on operant conditioning; favored reinforcement over punishment; interested in societal applications (e.g., Walden II, token economies).

Summary: Behaviorism's Core

Rejection of consciousness; rejection of introspection; focus on observable behavior and learning (vs. instinct); emphasis on experimental control.