Module 7 behaviorism

MODULE 7: BEHAVIORISM

U N I T 3 . 1 B E H AV I O R I S T P E R S P E C T I V EI VA N PAV L O V

E D WA R D L . T H O R N D I K EJ O H N B . WAT S O N

B U R R H U S F R E D E R I C K S K I N N E R

Cherry Y. OsteriaEDUC3A

INTRODUCTIONThe theory of behaviorism focuses on the

study of observable and measurable behavior. It emphasizes that behavior is mostly learned through conditioning and reinforcement (reward and punishment). It does not give much attention to e mind and the possibility of thought processes occurring in the mind. Contributions in the development of the behaviorist theory largely came from Pavlov, Watson,Thorndike and Skinner.

ADVANCE ORGANIZERBehaviorism

Classical Conditioning

(Pavlov/Watson)

Connectionism(Thorndike)

Operant Conditioning

(Skinner)

Primary Laws

Law of Effect

Law of ExerciseLaw of Readiness

Reinforcement

Shaping of Behavior

A Russian psychologist , is well known for his work in classical conditioning or stimulus substitution. Pavlov most renowned experiment involved meat, a dog and a bell.Initially, Pavlov was measuring the dog's salivation in order to study digestion. This is when he stumbled upon classical conditioning.

IVAN PAVLOV

CLASSICAL CONDITION

Pavlov ff. Findings:• Stimulus Generalization• Extinction• Spontaneous Recovery• Discrimination• Higher-Order • Conditioning

Connectionism theory gave us the original S-R Framework of behavioral psychology. More than hundred years ago he wrote a text book entitled, Educational Psychology. He was the first one to use this term. He explained that learning is the result of associations or "habits" become strengthened or weakened by the nature and frequency of the S-R pairings.

EDWARD L. THORNDIKE

CONNECTIONISM THEORYwhich states that behavioral responses to specific stimuli are established through a process of trial and error that affects neural connections between the stimuli and the most satisfying responses.

THREE PRIMARY LAWS: 

1. Law of effect- states that a connection between a stimulus and response is strengthened when the consequence is positive (reward) and the connection between the stimulus and the response is weakened when the consequence is negative.

2. Law of Exercise- This tells us that the more an S-R(Stimulus response) bond id practiced the stronger it willbecome. "Practice makes perfect" seem to be associated with this.

3. Law of Readiness- This states that the more readiness the learner has to respond to the stimulus, the stronger will be the bond between them.

PRINCIPLES DERIVED FROM THORNDIKE'S CONNECTION:• Learning requires both practice and rewards • A series of S-R connections can be chained together if they belong to the same action sequence (law of readiness)• Transfer of Learning occurs because of previously encountered situations.• Intelligence is a unction of the number of connections learned.

JOHN WATSONWas the first American psychologist to work with Pavlov’s ideas. He too was initially involved in animal studies, then later became involved in human behavior research. He considered that humans are born with a few reflexes and the emotional reaction of love and rage.

Elements of Classical Conditioning in the Little Albert Experiment

The Little Albert experiment presents and example of how classical

conditioning can be used to condition an emotional response.

• Neutral Stimulus: The white rat• Unconditioned Stimulus: The loud noise• Unconditioned Response: Fear• Conditioned Stimulus: The white rat• Conditioned Response: Fear

LITTLE ALBERT EXPERIMENT

The work of Skinner was rooted in a view that classical conditioning was far too simplistic to be a complete explanation of complex human behavior. He believed that the best way to understand behavior is to look at the causes of an action and its consequences. He called this approach operant conditioning.

BURRHUS FREDERICK

SKINNER

Skinner's theory of operant conditioning was based on the work of Thorndike (1905). Edward Thorndike studied learning in animals using a puzzle box to propose the theory known as the 'Law of Effect'.

Operant Conditioning deals with operant - intentional actions that have an effect on the surrounding environment. Skinner set out to identify the processes which made certain operant behaviors more or less likely to occur.

OPERANT CONDITIONIN

G

B.F. Skinner (1938) coined the term operant conditioning; it means roughly changing of behavior by the use of reinforcement which is given after the desired response. Skinner identified three types of responses or operant that can follow behavior.

1. NEUTRAL OPERANTS - Responses from the environment that neither increase nor decrease the probability of a behavior being repeated.

2. REINFORCERS- Responses from the environment that increase the probability of a behavior being repeated. Reinforcers can be either positive or negative.

• POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT. strengthens a behavior by providing a consequence an individual finds rewarding.The removal of an unpleasant reinforcer can also strengthen behavior. This is known as

• NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT because it is the removal of an adverse stimulus which is ‘rewarding’ to the animal or personPunished behavior is not forgotten, it's suppressed - behavior returns when punishment is no longer present.

3. PUNISHERS- Responses from the environment that decrease the likelihood of a behavior being repeated. Punishment weakens behavior.