Unit1_FundamentalOps_CataniaCh2(5thEd)
Chapter 2: A Behavior Taxonomy
Introduction to Behavior
Behavior is derived from Latin "habere" meaning to hold or have.
The term has evolved to encompass how one carries oneself (comportment) rather than activity alone.
Taxonomy refers to a system of classification, rooted in Greek terms meaning to arrange (tassein) and method (nomia).
Behavioral Taxonomy Overview
The chapter presents a vocabulary for organizing various behavioral procedures and phenomena.
It emphasizes the origins of behavior rather than formal laws explaining them.
The taxonomy is not exhaustive, allowing for flexibility as the field evolves.
Key Terms
Key Terms: Taxonomy; Operation or Procedure; Process or Outcome; Reflex; Elicitation; Motivation; Establishing operation; Reinforcer; Punisher.
Observing Behavior
The simplest way to study behavior is by observation, which involves noting what an organism can do.
Observational methods have limitations; intervention is often required to understand causation.
Presenting Stimuli
Presentation of stimuli is the second step for studying behavior.
Example: Niko Tinbergen demonstrated the effects of stimuli by observing herring gull chicks.
Chicks peck at parent gull bills to elicit feeding behavior.
Arranging Consequences
Edward L. Thorndike's experiments highlight behavior's dependence on previous consequences.
Thorndike used "puzzle boxes" to study gradual learning in animals, emphasizing the impact of escaping confinement and receiving rewards.
Responses can be shaped by consequences—pleasurable outcomes reinforce behavior over time.
Signaling Events and Procedures
Distinction between signaling presentations and arranging consequences.
Discriminative Stimuli: Stimuli that signal when consequences will follow, crucial for behavior learning.
Classic example: Pavlov's dogs learned to salivate at the sound of a metronome that predicted food.
Establishing the Effectiveness of Consequences
Different consequences exert different influences on behavior based on conditions (e.g., deprivation or satiation).
Establishing Operations: Procedures that enhance the effectiveness of consequences.
Example: Water's effectiveness as a reinforcer increases under dehydration.
Summary of Methods
Important procedures for studying behavior include:
Observation: No intervention, simply watching organism behavior.
Stimulus Presentation: Introducing stimuli to observe responses (e.g., loud noises startling a child).
Consequential Procedure: Evaluating responses followed by consequences (e.g., responding to touch).
Signaling Procedures: Stimuli that signal other stimuli or consequences.
Establishing Operations: Processes that modify the effectiveness of reinforcers/punishers.
Conclusion
The study of behavior encompasses the interactions between environmental changes and organism responses.
Understanding behavior requires analyzing how changes in stimuli and consequences affect actions.
The classification of procedures aids in structuring this analysis, enabling progress in behavioral science.