Behaviorism and Morgan's Canon

Questions and Answers

What does Morgan's Canon primarily caution against in the study of animal behavior?

Focusing solely on observable behaviors

Assuming animals possess consciousness

Using human-like faculties as explanations (correct)

Incorporating cognitive processes in explanations

Which psychologist is primarily associated with the official founding of modern behaviorism?

William James

Sigmund Freud

B.F. Skinner

John B. Watson (correct)

What key aspect did Watson reject in his behaviorist manifesto?

The influence of the environment on behavior

The method of introspection (correct)

The importance of observable behaviors

The need for scientific rigor

According to Morgan's Canon, why might cognition not be necessary to explain human behavior?

Simpler explanations may suffice for human behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What principle is reflected in Morgan's approach when analyzing animal behaviors?

Behavior is best understood through observable actions alone. Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant influence on the rise of behaviorism in psychology?

Discontent with 19th-century psychological theories Signup and view all the answers

How did Watson's behaviorism differ from earlier psychological approaches?

It did not require cognitive or internal faculties. Signup and view all the answers

What overarching question does Morgan's Canon raise regarding human psychology?

Are complex cognitive processes necessary to explain human behavior? Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect did Freud view as more important in the formation of phobias?

The unconscious internal events Signup and view all the answers

What was the neutral stimulus used in Watson and Rayner's conditioning experiment?

A white rat Signup and view all the answers

What method did Watson use to demonstrate conditioning of fear in infants?

Pavlov's classical conditioning principles Signup and view all the answers

What was Albert's initial reaction to the white rat before conditioning occurred?

He was curious and touched it Signup and view all the answers

What unexpected event was paired with the white rat to evoke fear in Albert?

Striking a steel bar with a hammer Signup and view all the answers

What characterized Albert's emotional state prior to the conditioning experiment?

Stolid and unemotional Signup and view all the answers

What did Watson aim to demonstrate through his experiment with Albert?

The feasibility of conditioning emotional responses Signup and view all the answers

Which concept from behaviorism does the conditioning of fear in Albert relate to?

Stimulus-response associations Signup and view all the answers

What does the generalisation gradient indicate in classical conditioning?

Animals show a systematic reduction in response to similar stimuli. Signup and view all the answers

According to Pavlov, what underlies the response to a conditioned stimulus?

A simple conditioning response without awareness. Signup and view all the answers

Which animal is mentioned as an example of simple learning through classical conditioning?

California sea hare Signup and view all the answers

What is a misconception about the discrimination capability of animals in classical conditioning?

Discrimination is a conscious cognitive process. Signup and view all the answers

How does Morgan’s Canon relate to the explanation of conditioning processes?

It suggests simpler explanations should be favored over complex constructs. Signup and view all the answers

What role does the central nervous system play in classical conditioning as evidenced by the California sea hare?

Simple nervous systems can also support learning through conditioning. Signup and view all the answers

What does the observation of the California sea hare demonstrate about classical conditioning?

Simple organisms can engage in classical conditioning processes. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about stimulus-response relationships in conditioning is true?

Responses can occur without cognitive interpretation of stimuli. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of behaviourism in psychology?

Describing observable relationships between environmental events and behaviour Signup and view all the answers

What fundamental idea does behaviourism reject regarding mental processes?

Behaviour is influenced by unobservable internal states Signup and view all the answers

According to behaviourists, what should remain 'private' in the study of psychology?

Mental processes and private events Signup and view all the answers

In behaviourist terminology, what is typically referred to as the input in controlled experiments?

Stimulus Signup and view all the answers

How do later behaviourists aim to explain complex behaviours such as language?

By applying principles of behaviourism to observable actions Signup and view all the answers

What concept reflects the behaviourist resistance to using subjective experience in explanations?

Morgan’s Canon Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of the behaviourist approach to psychology?

Adherence to observable event-behaviour relationships Signup and view all the answers

Why do behaviourists consider the study of mental processes unscientific?

They cannot be accurately measured Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic shape of the response record in fixed ratio schedules?

A stepped or staircase shape Signup and view all the answers

How does the duration of the pause after reinforcement relate to the fixed ratio required for rewards?

It increases systematically with higher ratios Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the rate of responding once it is initiated under fixed ratio schedules?

It remains constant regardless of the ratio Signup and view all the answers

What is a distinctive characteristic of the response curve in fixed interval schedules?

It has a scallop shape Signup and view all the answers

What behavior is typically observed in animals under variable interval schedules?

Almost continuous behavior regardless of reward Signup and view all the answers

How does behavior differ between fixed ratio and variable interval schedules?

Fixed ratio schedules lead to sustained pauses, variable intervals do not Signup and view all the answers

What occurs in the response pattern following obtaining a predictably timed reward in fixed interval schedules?

Responses increase leading up to the next reward Signup and view all the answers

What trend can be observed in the cumulative rate of responding over time with various fixed ratio schedules?

Higher ratios increase the pause duration before resuming Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Morgan's Canon and Animal Behavior

Morgan's Canon advocates for psychological explanations of behavior that avoid inferring human-like faculties like consciousness or volition.
Emphasizes the validity of simpler explanations for animal behavior over complex cognitive interpretations.
Highlights a shift in human psychology, questioning the necessity of cognition to explain behavior.

Rise of Behaviorism

Dissatisfaction with 19th-century psychological theories led to the development of behaviorism.
Modern behaviorism was established by J.B. Watson, who presented a lecture titled “Psychology as the Behaviourist Views It” in 1913, rejecting introspection and unobservable mental processes.
Behaviorism focuses on observable relationships between environmental stimuli and resultant behaviors, excluding subjective experience from its scope.

Principles of Behaviorism

Rejects cognitive explanations and internal mental processes, aligning with Morgan's Canon.
Advocates for studying only observable responses to environmental inputs, often referred to as stimuli.
Maintains that private experiences are unscientific and irrelevant to psychological study.

Classical Conditioning

Demonstrates that conditioning can occur without cognitive awareness; animals learn through associations without conscious understanding.
Example: A California sea hare, despite its simple nervous system with around 10,000 neurons, can learn via classical conditioning.
Pavlov’s conclusions suggest that a response to a stimulus does not imply cognitive mediation or awareness.

Watson's Experiment with Little Albert

Watson and Rayner conditioned a fear response in an infant named Albert by pairing a neutral stimulus (a white rat) with a fear-inducing stimulus (a loud noise).
Initially, Albert showed no fear of the rat, reflecting curiosity instead.
The experiment illustrated how emotional responses could be conditioned, supporting behaviorist claims that internal experiences were unnecessary.

Reinforcement Schedules in Behaviorism

Different reinforcement schedules shape behavior in consistent patterns, such as fixed and variable ratios.
Fixed ratio schedules produce a characteristic "staircase" response pattern, with pauses between responses relative to reinforcement frequency.
Variable interval schedules lead to almost continuous behavior, promoting rapid responses even immediately after rewards.

Conclusion

Behaviorism provided a new framework for understanding behavior without invoking introspective or cognitive explanations.
Emphasizes the significance of observable behavior as the core focus of psychological study, facilitating the analysis of complex behaviors through environmental interaction.

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Description

Explore the fundamental principles behind behaviorism and Morgan's Canon in this quiz. Understand how behaviorism emerged from dissatisfaction with earlier psychological theories and how it prioritizes observable behavior over complex cognitive explanations. Test your knowledge of key figures like J.B. Watson and the shift in psychological perspectives.