Behaviorism

Behaviorism

Overview Introduction Major theories Strengths Criticisms References

Introduction Behaviorism is a theory of learning based upon the idea that all behaviors are acquired through conditioning. Behaviorism is a school of thought in psychology that assumes that learning occurs through interactions with the environment. Two other assumptions of this theory are that the environment shapes behavior and that taking internal mental states such as thoughts, feelings, and emotions into consideration is useless in explaining behavior. Behaviorism is a perspective that became dominant during the early half of the 20th century. Major figures led to the development of this approach: Ivan Pavlov, John B. Watson, and B.F. Skinner. Their research produced theories of learning based entirely on reactions, or "responses," by the organism (human or animal), directly to stimuli in the environment through processes of conditioning.

Major theories: John Watson John waston(1878-1958), the father of behaviorism supported Pavlov's ideas on conditioned responses. Through his experiments, Watson tried to demonstrate the role of conditioning in producing as well as elimination the emotional responses such as fear. Conditioning is a learning process whereby an artificial or conditioned stimulus is able to behave like a natural stimulus when both natural and artificial stimuli are presented together. The conditioning theory of learning put forward by Watson and Pavlov actually involves the conditioning of the respondent behavior through a process of stimulus association and substitution. Here the responses of the learner become so much conditioned, behaving in the same way or responding similarly to a similar situation that he doesn't care for the natural stimuli for evoking the related natural response. As a result the new substituted stimulus behaves like the original stimulus and is able to evoke the desired response. Classical conditioning is a learning process that occurs through associations between an environmental stimulus and a naturally occurring stimulus. In his views, psychology dealt with overt and observable behavior of the organism.

B. F. Skinner As a behaviorist, Skinner believed that internal thoughts and motivations could not be used to explain behavior. Instead, he suggested, we should look only at the external, observable causes of human behavior. He concluded that behavior is shaped and maintained by its consequences. It is operated by the organism and maintained by its results. The occurrence of such behavior was named as operant behavior and the process of learning that plays the part in learning such behavior was named as operant conditioning. Operant conditioning is a method of learning that occurs through rewards and punishments for behavior. Through operant conditioning, an association is made between a behavior and a consequence for that behavior.

Important Events in Behaviorism 1900 - Ivan Pavlov began studying the salivary response and other reflexes. 1913 - John Watson's Psychology as a Behaviorist Views It was published. The article outlined the many of the main points of behaviorism. 1920 - Watson and assistant Rosalie Rayner conducted the famous "Little Albert" experiment. 1943 - Clark Hull's Principles of Behavior was published. 1948 - B.F. Skinner published Walden II in which he described a utopian society founded upon behaviorist principles. 1959 - Noam Chomsky published his criticism of Skinner's behaviorism, "Review of Verbal Behavior." 1971 - B.F. Skinner published his book Beyond Freedom and Dignity, where he argues that free will is an illusion.

Strengths Behaviorism is based upon observable behaviors, so it is easier to quantify and collect data and information when conducting research. The behavioral approaches are often very useful in changing maladaptive or harmful behaviors in both children and adults.

Criticisms Many critics argue that behaviorism is a one-dimensional approach to behavior and that behavioral theories do not account for free will and internal influences such as moods, thoughts, and feelings. Behaviorism does not account for other types of learning, especially learning that occurs without the use of reinforcements or punishments.

References http://psychology.about.com Wolman B. B. (1960). Contemporary theories and systems in psychology. Harper & Row, Newyork, Evanston and London and John Weatherhill, Inc., Tokyo Mangal S. K. (2006). General Psychology. Sterling Publishers Private Limited, New Delhi