behaviorism

Behaviorism Overview

  • Definition: Behaviorism is the theory that human or animal psychology can be objectively studied through observable actions (behaviors) rather than thoughts and feelings.

Key Takeaways

  • Objective Study: Behaviorism focuses on observable behaviors rather than introspective thoughts.

  • Influential Figures: Key psychologists include John B. Watson (classical conditioning) and B.F. Skinner (operant conditioning).

Types of Conditioning

Classical Conditioning

  • Definition: Learning through association between two stimuli.

  • Characteristics: Involves involuntary responses (biological or emotional).

  • Example: Pavlov’s Dogs experiment, where dogs learned to associate the sound of a bell with food, leading them to salivate at the sound even when no food was present.

Operant Conditioning

  • Definition: Learning through associating behaviors with consequences.

  • Involvement: Positive/negative reinforcement or punishment.

  • Key Concept: Still prevalent in classrooms, guiding behavior through rewards and consequences.

History and Origins of Behaviorism

  • Reaction to Mentalism: Emerged as a counter to mentalism, which relied on introspection and subjective analysis of thoughts and feelings.

  • Critique of Mentalism: Behaviorists viewed mentalist observations as too subjective and varied among individuals.

Methodological Behaviorism

  • John B. Watson: Published "Psychology as the behaviorist views it" in 1913, advocating for psychology as the science of behavior.

Radical Behaviorism

  • B.F. Skinner's Contribution: Focused on observable behaviors reflecting unseen mental processes, emphasizing the relationship between behavior and environment.

Classical Conditioning vs. Operant Conditioning

Classical Conditioning Experiments

Pavlov’s Dogs

  • Setup: Dogs salivating in response to meat, later conditioned to salivate at the sound of a bell.

  • Outcome: Demonstrated learning through association, linking an involuntary response to a new stimulus.

Little Albert Experiment

  • Setup: 9-month-old Albert shown a white rat, initially unafraid, then conditioned through loud noises to fear the rat.

  • Outcome: Showed that fear responses could also be conditioned, associating a previously neutral stimulus with fear.

Operant Conditioning Experiments

Skinner Boxes

  • Setup: Rats learn to press levers in a box to receive food or escape discomfort (electric current).

  • Outcomes: Positive and negative reinforcement shaped the rats' behaviors, demonstrating the concepts of operant conditioning.

Types of Reinforcement

  1. Positive Reinforcement: Addition of a pleasant stimulus to increase a behavior.

  2. Negative Reinforcement: Removal of an unpleasant stimulus to increase a behavior.

  3. Punishment: Addition of an aversive stimulus to decrease a behavior.

Behaviorism in Contemporary Culture

  • Application in Classrooms: Utilizing operant conditioning techniques such as rewards for good performance and consequences for poor behavior to shape student behavior.