Behaviorism and Learning Theories

Behaviorist Theories Overview

• Focus on how interaction with the environment leads to the acquisition of behaviors
• Emphasize measurable and observable aspects of behavior
• Behaviorism assumes that behaviors are learned and can be modified by reinforcement and punishment
• It is also referred to as stimulus-response theory

Key Concepts of Behaviorist Theories

Learning Through Conditioning

• Also known as classical and operant conditioning.
• Classical Conditioning (Pavlov): Learning occurs through association by associating a meaningful stimulus with a neutral one to elicit a conditioned response
• Operant Conditioning (Skinner): Learning occurs through consequences where behaviors are strengthened by reinforcement and weakened by punishment

Observable Behavior

• Psychology focuses on behaviors that can be observed and measured, not on subjective thoughts or emotions

Environment's Role

• Behavior is a response to environmental stimuli
• Downplays the role of internal or innate factors

Reinforcement and Punishment

• Positive Reinforcement: Adding a pleasant stimulus to increase a behavior
• Negative Reinforcement: Removing an unpleasant stimulus to increase a behavior
• Positive Punishment: Adding an unpleasant stimulus to decrease a behavior
• Negative Punishment: Removing a pleasant stimulus to decrease a behavior

Applications of Behaviorist Theories

• Education: Utilizes rewards and punishments to shape classroom behavior by using reinforcement schedules for student learning
• Therapy: Uses behavioral therapies like token economies or systematic desensitization to treat phobias
• Workplace: Employs employee incentive programs to reinforce productivity
• Parenting: Implements time-outs and praise to manage children's behavior

Key Theorists in Behaviorism

• John B. Watson: Known as the "Father of Behaviorism," he believed psychology should study observable behavior only; he did the "Little Albert" experiment where a child was conditioned to fear a white rat by pairing it with a loud noise
• B.F. Skinner: Expanded research on on operant conditioning by introducing concepts like schedules of reinforcement; did the Skinner box experiment, where animals learned to press a lever to receive food
• Ivan Pavlov: Pioneered research into Classical conditioning by focusing on involuntary behaviors triggered by stimuli
• Edward Thorndike: Developed the "Law of Effect," stating that behaviors followed by positive outcomes are more likely to recur

Criticism of Behaviorism

• Reductionist: Oversimplifies complex human behaviors by ignoring mental processes like thoughts and emotions
• Neglect of Innate Factors: Downplays biological and genetic influences on behavior
• Ethical Concerns: Some experiments (e.g., "Little Albert") are criticized for their ethical implications
• Limited Scope: Is less effective in explaining abstract behaviors

Other behaviorist Theories

• Classical Conditioning (Ivan Pavlov): When a neutral stimulus becomes linked to a stimulus that naturally elicits a response, learning occurs

• Example: Pavlov's dog experiment.

  • Unconditioned stimulus = food, elicited unconditioned response = salivation.
  • Neutral stimulus = a bell, was paired with food, eventually the bell alone caused salivation, becoming a conditioned stimulus, eliciting the conditioned response of salivation.

• Operant Conditioning (B.F. Skinner): Behavior is shaped by reinforcement (positive or negative) or punishment (positive or negative)

  • Example: a rat learned to press a lever to receive food which was positive reinforcement, and to avoid an electric shock which was negative reinforcement

• The Law of Effect (Edward Thorndike): Behaviors followed by satisfying outcomes are likely to be repeated, while those followed by unpleasant outcomes are less likely to occur

  • Example: A cat accidentally pressed a lever in a puzzle box which opened the box and released food; the cat then learned to press the lever more quickly to escape

• Stimulus-Response Theory (John B. Watson): Focuses on observable behavior as a response to stimuli, ignoring internal mental states

  • Example: A baby (Albert) was conditioned to fear a white rat (neutral stimulus) by pairing it with a loud noise (unconditioned stimulus); the fear generalized to other furry objects

• Social Learning Theory (Albert Bandura): Learening happens by observation, imitation, and modeling, influenced by rewards and punishments; Extension of behaviorism with cognitive elements

  • Example: Children observed an adult behaving aggressively toward a doll and those who say the adult rewarded imitated the behavior

• Drive Reduction Theory (Clark Hull): Driven by the need to reduce drives (e.g., hunger, thirst) and achieve homeostasis

  • Example: A hungry animal learns to press a lever to get food because it reduces the drive (hunger)

• Reinforcement Schedules Theory (B.F. Skinner): Behavior is maintained or changed based on how and when reinforcement is delivered

  • Example: A variable-ratio schedule (like slot machines) delivers reinforcement unpredictably, keeping people engaged longer while a fixed-interval schedule (e.g., weekly paycheck) leads to increased behavior just before reinforcement

• Behavioral Modification (Derived from Skinner): Applies reinforcement and punishment principles to change behavior

  • Example: Token economies in classrooms, where students earn tokens for good behavior that can be exchanged for rewards

S-R (Stimulus-Response) Theory

John B Watson

• All behaviors result from conditioning and can be explained by the association between stimuli and responses
  • Learning occurs through conditioning
  • Behavior is shaped by environmental stimuli, not internal thoughts or feelings
  • Watson emphasized classical conditioning and influenced by Pavlov
  • Famous "Little Albert" experiment demonstrates that emotions (like fear) could be conditioned
  • Example: A child who touches a hot stove (stimulus) and feels pain (response) will learn to avoid touching hot objects

Edwin R. Guthrie Contiguity

• Learning happens in one trial—a behavior is learned immediately when a stimulus and response occur together
• Example: Student studies while listening to music (Student then associates music triggers then to study)
  • Learning occurs through contiguity (close association of stimulus and response)
  • Repetition is not necessary; a single experience can be enough
  • Habits form when the same stimulus elicits the same response repeatedly
  • Forgetting is not the loss of learning but the replacement of old responses with new ones

Comparison of Watson vs. Guthrie

Both S-R theories emphasize observable behavior and the role of stimuli in shaping responses.

Conditioning happens through 2 ways:

• 1 Classic (learning by association)
• 2 Operant, Learning through stimulus

Watson (Classical Conditioning): Behavior is shaped through associations between stimuli while Guthrie (Contiguity Learning): Happens in one trial Skinner (Operant Conditioning): Learning is influenced by rewards and punishments

Applications & education

• Reinforcement to encourage behavior, which may lead to habits to completing task on time.
• Negative enforcement to promote engagement. (Teachers stop giving pop quizzes if students participate more in class)
• if a student focuses on a single stimulus they may get more focus (classical conditioning in learning)

Behavior and parenting

• Parents may praise kids for saying "thank you", leading them to repeat the act
• Parents may ignore bad behavior so that the bad behavior won't get repeated
• Positive behaviors like bedtime routine would elicit a positive stimulus (bedtime)
• Negative behaviors such as tantrums won't get any reward (tantrums don't work)

Workplace

• Employee bonuses are conditioned to the drive to work
• Salary reduction on employees force the tardy ones to come on time
• Early completion rewards a new employee with less pressure to complete tasks on time

Marketing & Brands

• Brands elicit happiness such as coke as brands with brand association to increase a cravings or positive feelings

Fitness

• A person exercises -> sees weight loss is an addiction and so people start working out ( positive feedback)
• A smart watches vibrates and so daily walking Habits

SPorts

• Coaches Rewards extra practice in trade for better performance

Relationships

• Cafe is neutral stimulus, you relate the time together in the cafe with romantic feelings.

      Arguments
  

• Complaining dishes are a punishment, while negative reinforcement means washing it so you don't get nagged by the complainer.

• Giving Affection Only give Affection are Arguments, but arguments

EDWAR THORNDIKE B.F SKINNER

The law of affect was developed by thorndike while B.F SKINNER built on the principle known as operant conditioning

• THORNDIKE
• (1949) Studied the way animals were learning, through trial and error 1 Law of effect: if the behavior is more pleasant it was MORE likely to get repeated while unpleasant would NOT

THE PULL BOX (cat in the box) Gradual Successful behaviors are more likely and actions are more likely

Skinner - (1990)

• BUILT of THORNDIE (opernant: shaping
• behavior by punishment / rewarding The lever would release food and the cat will keep pressing. (if the press stopped the shock cat would keep pressing the never Skinner experiment - Reinforcement builds behavior, while punishment weakens it Key- ideas
• Positive- you give someone something good
• Negative- you take something BADLY

Explore behaviorist theories explaining human behavior, conditioning, and motivation. Learn about classical and operant conditioning, reinforcement, and stimulus-response theory. Understand key concepts from Watson, Skinner, and Social Learning Theory.