Behaviorism in Psychology: Key Theories
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Activity on: Classical Behaviorism (Pavlov) and Methodological (Watson)
Answer the questions below, using the text as a reference:
History of Modern Psychology
Thomson Learning, 2007, Chapters 9 and 10
1) Describe the basic principles of Watson's Behaviorism and point out the
Differences between the foundations of Wundt and Titchener's positions.
Watson's psychology rejected any mental term or concept; consciousness did not.
had the lowest value.
Watson sought a scientific psychology that dealt exclusively with acts.
observable behaviors that can be described objectively, for example: in terms
of 'stimulus response'
Regarding the differences, Watson adopts the mechanistic method, where the organism is seen
like a machine. Its design also went against that of Tichener who used as
psychophysics, which studies the relationships between sensations and stimuli. Already
Wundt used the method of introspection, which was inconceivable to Watson.
2) How did Pavlov's work influence that of Watson?
Pavlov provides Watson with the opportunity to study how to predict and control the
behavior based on conditioned reflexes - Stimulus-Response. Pavlov has as
object of study the conditioned reflex, reflex arising from an external stimulus
promoting an innate response and reflection. From the definition of these concepts by Pavlov
can influence Watson.
What is the objective of Watson's scientific psychology?
The subject of study of Watson's psychology is behavior and behavior and the
interactions with the environment
4) What is Watson's method of psychological science? And what is its purpose?
What is Watson's conception of emotions?
The conditioned reflex, the observation with and without the use of instruments, the application of
testes and the verbal account of the experience.
5) What is Watson's conception of emotions?
Watson considered emotions as physiological responses to specific stimuli.
These responses are a form of implicit behavior (nervous impulses) and
explicit (when they are directly observed).
6) How could we describe the way the individual learns? What is the
importance of the social environment in the upbringing of the child?
Pavlov believes in behavioral learning through what he named
conditional reflex that was a proposal also accepted by Watson. For Bandura and for
Skinner, for example; behavior is learned and does not exist without there being
learning. Skinner believes that for there to be learning, it is necessary for man to operate.
about the environment. Bandura already believes that it is possible to learn just by observing the
behavior of other individuals.
For these four behaviorists, the social environment is extremely important because
provides essential stimuli for learning, but Skinner stated that in addition to the external environment
There is something internal that is also responsible for behavior.
Thorndike was also a great scholar on learning; he created connectionism.
connection between situations and responses, affirming that learning is the
establishment of connections - created the law of learning by trial and error.
Some authors claim that Watson's project had a great impact on
public. What were they referring to?
First of all, Watson's project had an impact on the public as it totally went against
to Wundt's scientific psychology project, which was more accepted at the time. The program of
Watson was not immediately accepted by all psychologists, as they would have to
disregard all mentalistic aspects of psychology and consider only the
behavior by stimulus and observable response.
8) What criticism could be made of Watsonian Behaviorism?
The criticism to be made of Behaviorism is that it emerged in opposition to
mentalism, the psychologists who defended the principle of objectivity criticized the omission
of important components such as sensory and perceptual factors, of motorcyclists not
it could be considered a psychology study.
Activity about: Radical Behaviorism (Skinner) and Social (Bandura)
KAHHALE, E.M.P. Radical Behaviorism: origins and foundations. In: KAHHALE, E.M.P.
Diversity in Psychology: A Theoretical Construction.
SCHULTZ, D.P. & SCHULTZ, S.E. History of Modern Psychology 8th ed. São Paulo:
Thomson Learning, 2007, Chapter 11
1) In the text of Kahhale's book on Behaviorism, more specifically when
the author discusses Skinner's Radical Behaviorism and points out a
change in the epistemological model throughout her work. What transition does the author
refers to?
The author refers to the transition from the mechanistic epistemological model, where the organism is
seen as a machine for the functionalist model.
2) In the same text, the author discusses the conception of knowledge and perception.
for Skinner to explain the way he approaches his object of knowledge, the
behavior.
For Skinner, it is necessary to operate on the environment to establish
conditioning; perception is a social construct
3) How does Skinner define operant behavior in this text and what
In what way can this be compared to Pavlov's reflex behavior?
Operant behavior occurs from a mechanism that rewards a certain
response of an individual until they become conditioned to associate the need with
action. This mechanism has an effect on the environment, creating conditions for a
response occurs. In Pavlov's reflex behavior, every stimulus produces a
response.
4) Describe Skinner's triple contingency of reinforcement.
The consequences of a behavior can influence the likelihood of it.
happen again. For a response to occur, there must be a stimulus from the environment.
(physical or social), which may increase or decrease the probability of a
determined response in the future. Below is the specification of the triple contingency:
the occasion when the response occurs
the answer itself
3- the reinforced consequences
The interrelations between these three items mentioned above are the reinforcement contingencies.
5) Skinner talks about positive reinforcement (SCHULTZ & SCHULTZ, p. 11). How the
The researcher uses this concept to address a modification of
behavior?
If the consequence is pleasant, the frequency of the behavior will increase (reinforcement).
When a contingency is said to be positive (positive reinforcement), it means that there is a
presentation of a stimulus that can be pleasant or unpleasant. Example: if a
pigeon rings the bell and receives complementary food. If a student has good grades
receive a compliment, that is, reinforcing the desired behavior and not reinforcing the unwanted one.
unwanted.
To what extent do the proposals of Skinner and Bandura converge and diverge?
(SCHULTZ & SCHULTZ, chapter 11)?
The importance of the social environment in human behavior for Skinner's research and
Bandura are proposals that come close. Both believe in something inner that also
is responsible for modeling human behavior in his research. However, Skinner
believes that to learn it is necessary to operate on the environment, while Bandura believes
that through the observation of the behavior of other individuals it is possible to learn.
In our classes, we addressed an important concept in Bandura's proposal.
What concept is this (SCHULTZ & SCHULTZ, ch 11)?
Bandura brings us the Social Cognitive Theory, which is a form of behaviorism that is less
radical than Skinner's. His research aimed to observe the behavior of
individuals during interaction. Did not use introspection nor emphasize the importance of
reward or reinforcement in the acquisition or modification of behavior. As a
cognitive system, it emphasized the influence of external reinforcement schemes
thought processes, such as beliefs, expectations, and instruction. For Bandura,
Behavioral responses are not triggered automatically by a stimulus.
external, as in a machine or in a robot. In contrast, the reactions to stimuli
they are self-activated, initiated by the person themselves. When an external reinforcement alters the
behavior, it's because the person is aware of the response that is being
strengthened and anticipates the reception of the same reinforcement by repeating the behavior of the
next time the situation occurs. Thus, he brings us the vision of capability
to learn through examples and through vicarious reinforcement is part of the principle of
that we are capable of anticipating and evaluating the consequences we observe in others
people, even if not going through the same experience. It is possible to control one's own
behavior, observing the consequences, even if not experienced, of
determined behavior and making a conscious choice to act or not to act on it
Bandura conducted many studies on self-efficacy, described as the sense of
self-esteem or self-worth, the feeling of adequacy, effectiveness, and competence to
facing problems (Bandura, 1982). His work demonstrated that people with
high levels of self-efficacy believe they are capable of dealing with the various
life events. They imagine they are capable of overcoming obstacles, they seek
challenges, persist and maintain a high degree of confidence in their ability to succeed
and to control one's own life.