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Questions and Answers
What does behaviorism primarily focus on as the cause of behavior?
What does behaviorism primarily focus on as the cause of behavior?
Which concept is primarily associated with Pavlov's work in behaviorism?
Which concept is primarily associated with Pavlov's work in behaviorism?
In the stimulus-response (S-R) model proposed by Watson, what does the 'S' represent?
In the stimulus-response (S-R) model proposed by Watson, what does the 'S' represent?
What is the main goal of behavioral analysis as described in behaviorism?
What is the main goal of behavioral analysis as described in behaviorism?
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What does learned helplessness refer to in the context of behaviorism?
What does learned helplessness refer to in the context of behaviorism?
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What is the definition of habituation as described in behaviorism?
What is the definition of habituation as described in behaviorism?
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Which of these is NOT a goal of behaviorism?
Which of these is NOT a goal of behaviorism?
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Which term best describes the relationship between a stimulus and a response in behaviorism?
Which term best describes the relationship between a stimulus and a response in behaviorism?
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What is a key concept of behaviourism regarding stimuli and responses?
What is a key concept of behaviourism regarding stimuli and responses?
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According to the learning-based approach, what defines learning?
According to the learning-based approach, what defines learning?
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Which of the following statements best describes personality according to Allport's definition?
Which of the following statements best describes personality according to Allport's definition?
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What is a characteristic of the trait theory of personality?
What is a characteristic of the trait theory of personality?
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What does the Law of Effect proposed by L. Thorndike describe?
What does the Law of Effect proposed by L. Thorndike describe?
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What is NOT a goal of scientific psychology?
What is NOT a goal of scientific psychology?
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According to Thorndike's conclusions, what type of learning is primarily characterized?
According to Thorndike's conclusions, what type of learning is primarily characterized?
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What is the primary focus of classical conditioning?
What is the primary focus of classical conditioning?
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Which model examines only observable behaviors and does not deny internal states?
Which model examines only observable behaviors and does not deny internal states?
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B.F. Skinner believed the effectiveness of positive reinforcement is determined by what?
B.F. Skinner believed the effectiveness of positive reinforcement is determined by what?
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Which statement accurately reflects a learning-based approach to personality?
Which statement accurately reflects a learning-based approach to personality?
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Which of the following statements about operant conditioning is true?
Which of the following statements about operant conditioning is true?
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Which of the following is characteristic of the psychodynamic theory of personality?
Which of the following is characteristic of the psychodynamic theory of personality?
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What is a defining feature of punishment in behavioral psychology?
What is a defining feature of punishment in behavioral psychology?
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What does the term 'shaping' refer to in operant conditioning?
What does the term 'shaping' refer to in operant conditioning?
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What is one of the implications of Skinner's work on behavior?
What is one of the implications of Skinner's work on behavior?
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What is the primary difference between positive and negative consequences in operant conditioning?
What is the primary difference between positive and negative consequences in operant conditioning?
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In the context of reinforcement schedules, what distinguishes a fixed ratio schedule from a variable ratio schedule?
In the context of reinforcement schedules, what distinguishes a fixed ratio schedule from a variable ratio schedule?
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What does the concept of generalization in behavior refer to?
What does the concept of generalization in behavior refer to?
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How does differential reinforcement adapt behaviors according to their responses?
How does differential reinforcement adapt behaviors according to their responses?
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Which limitation of radical behaviorism is related to the complexities of human cognitive processes?
Which limitation of radical behaviorism is related to the complexities of human cognitive processes?
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What behavior would be considered as an example of discrimination in operant conditioning?
What behavior would be considered as an example of discrimination in operant conditioning?
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How does the perspective on behaviorism relate to personality traits among different individuals?
How does the perspective on behaviorism relate to personality traits among different individuals?
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What role does shaping play in behavioral modification?
What role does shaping play in behavioral modification?
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What does the term 'context' refer to in the ordinary sequence of events?
What does the term 'context' refer to in the ordinary sequence of events?
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How would one best describe 'outcome' in the context of the ordinary sequence of events?
How would one best describe 'outcome' in the context of the ordinary sequence of events?
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Which internal process is considered a key factor in determining behavior?
Which internal process is considered a key factor in determining behavior?
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What is implied when internal events are excluded from explaining behavior?
What is implied when internal events are excluded from explaining behavior?
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In the context of behavior explanation, what does 'self-esteem' reflect?
In the context of behavior explanation, what does 'self-esteem' reflect?
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What does the phrase 'we don’t infer anything' suggest in the context of behavior analysis?
What does the phrase 'we don’t infer anything' suggest in the context of behavior analysis?
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What role does 'motivation' play in the ordinary sequence of events?
What role does 'motivation' play in the ordinary sequence of events?
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Which component is not included when analyzing behavior within the ordinary sequence?
Which component is not included when analyzing behavior within the ordinary sequence?
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How is 'attitude' best defined in the context of behavioral sequences?
How is 'attitude' best defined in the context of behavioral sequences?
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What can be inferred about the relationship between context and behavior?
What can be inferred about the relationship between context and behavior?
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What is primarily indicated by a high rate of response in various contexts?
What is primarily indicated by a high rate of response in various contexts?
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Which behavioral theorist is known as the 'Father of Behaviorism'?
Which behavioral theorist is known as the 'Father of Behaviorism'?
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According to behavioral theory, what should psychology focus on?
According to behavioral theory, what should psychology focus on?
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What does the principle of parsimony in behavioral focus imply?
What does the principle of parsimony in behavioral focus imply?
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What aspect of personality development did John B. Watson emphasize?
What aspect of personality development did John B. Watson emphasize?
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What does the example of eating in different contexts imply about social behavior?
What does the example of eating in different contexts imply about social behavior?
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What conclusion can be drawn from the 'Little Albert' experiment as discussed by Watson?
What conclusion can be drawn from the 'Little Albert' experiment as discussed by Watson?
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What was the main focus of Millar and Dollard's contributions to behavioral theory?
What was the main focus of Millar and Dollard's contributions to behavioral theory?
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Study Notes
PS338 Behaviourist Perspectives
- Course code is PS338
- Course title is Behaviourist Perspectives
- Lecturer is Dr Jenny Groarke
- Contact details: Qwickly: 4290, University of Galway, @Galway.ie
Behaviourism and Personality
- Behaviourism questions the concept of personality as something inherent
- Instead, it views personality as a pattern of learned behaviours
- The image of a pigeon and mouse illustrates this idea
- The image of a pigeon and mouse with chat bubbles implies that personality can be shaped by the environment
Learning-Based Approaches
- Learning is defined as change in behaviour due to experience
- Two key ideas:
- Stimuli close together in time elicit the same response
- Behaviors followed by pleasant outcomes are repeated; unpleasant outcomes lead to abandoning the behavior
What is Personality?
- Personality is a dynamic organisation, inside the person
- It is made up of psychophysical systems
- It forms characteristic patterns of behaviour, thoughts, and feelings.
- Quote from Allport (1961, p.11)
Theories of Personality
- Psychodynamic theories (Freud, Adler, Erikson): View personality as a set of internal forces that compete and conflict.
- Humanistic theories (Rogers, Maslow, Kelly): Emphasize potential for growth and development if conditions are met.
- Trait theories (Allport, Cattell, Eysenck, the Big 5): Focus on stable, embedded traits within a person.
Science of Psychology
- Goals of Psychology
- Investigation and description
- Understanding and prediction
- Influence and control
Pragmatic/Scientific Model of Personality
- A working model of behaviour focuses on observable behaviour
- Parsimony (simplicity) is key
- Observables are examined without denying internal states.
- The utility of internal states in explaining behaviour is questioned, focus is on predictability and control
Example of an Ordinary Sequence of Events
- An example of how behaviour isn't directly connected to personality, but rather the environment.
- Context (e.g., weather) influences internal processes which shapes behaviours (e.g., cooking and eating) that lead to outcomes (e.g., happiness).
- The external conditions can be manipulated and the same behaviour patterns can exist (e.g., sunny vs. rainy)
Example of Ordinary Sequence of Events: BUT WITHOUT Using Internal Events to Explain Behaviour
- A simpler model of behaviour, purely based on relationship between environment (context), behaviour and outcome. No mention of internal factors.
Ordinary Sequence of Events Does Not Change:
- Further explanation and example of behavior, purely based on environment, behavior and outcome. No internal factors
Sequence of Events: The Behavioural Focus on a Theory of Parsimony
- Another diagram showing the context, behaviour, and outcome relationship.
- The focus is totally on observable factors.
Let's Interpret the Data!
- The dependent variable (DV) is the rate of response.
- High rate of responding was observed across different contexts.
- The pattern suggests a strong response to social reinforcement.
Behavioural Theory
- Key figures in behavioural theory are Watson, Skinner, Thorndike, and Millar and Dollard
John B. Watson
- Considered the "Father of Behaviorism"
- Emphasized observable behavior over subjective experiences as the focus of psychology. (Watson, 1924/1930).
- Nature versus nurture debate: Focused on the role of experience in shaping personality
Radical Behaviourism
- A reaction against Freudian and humanistic interpretations of behaviour.
- Focuses on environmental causes of behaviour
- Inspired by Pavlov's work
Behaviourism
- The science of behaviour
- Behaviour has causes in the environment.
- Analysis studies how to shape environments to influence likelyhood and frequency of behaviour.
Behaviorism (cont.)
- People should be studied externally.
- Personality sums a person's behaviour.
- Causes of behaviour are observable.
- Goal of functional analysis: Understanding causes within the environment.
- Experience shapes everything.
Behaviourism (cont.)
- Goal: To discover laws that describe functional behaviour-environment relationships.
- Environment: Consists of all existing circumstances in which an organism exists
- Stimulus: Specific component of the environment
- Response: Specific behavioural instances.
- Stimulus-response (S-R) concept
Behaviorism: Classical Conditioning
- How classical conditioning works
- Pavlov's dog experiment
- Learning that one stimulus is a warning or signal for another
- Learned helplessness: Events seemingly happening randomly, leading to anxiety and depression
Classical Conditioning (S-R Psychology)
- Modification of involuntary, elicited behaviours.
- Magnitude of response is dependent variable.
- Habituation is a key concept.
Behaviorism: Habituation
- Simplest form of behaviour change from experience.
- Can influence responses to violence in media, or impact of major life events
- Affective forecasting: How we predict future emotions.
Classical Conditioning
- Explains how a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a specific response.
- Includes clear definitions of unconditioned and conditioned stimuli and responses.
Classical Conditioning and the Conditioned Emotional Response
- Demonstrates how existing emotions (unconditioned response) can become associated with a new stimulus (conditioned stimulus).
- Demonstrates classical conditioning relating to Little Albert
Classical Conditioning and the Conditioned Emotional Response
- Explains how stimuli are generalized. (Little Albert experiment)
Behaviourism: Basic Assumptions
- Continuity Hypothesis: Early experiences have a lasting impact on personality development
- Reductionism: Complex phenomena can be broken down into basic components
- Empiricism: Focus on observables rather than intangible internal events in the study of human behaviour.
- Determinism: All behaviour is caused by environmental factors.
- Emphasis on observable behaviour, not internal thought processes
- Behaviour is not random
Recap
- Theories of Personality
- Science of Psychology and the scientific model of personality
- Behaviourist Take on Ordinary Events in Contrast to Other Approaches (Observable outcomes less focus on "inner processes")
Today
- Skinner, Thorndike
- Classical Conditioning (S>R)
- Operant Conditioning (R>S)
- Consequences of Behavior
- RFT (Relational Frame Theory)
E. L. Thorndike
- Key figures in early work on animal learning.
- The Law of Effect: Consequences strengthen or weaken behaviour
- Trial and error learning
B.F. Skinner
- Key figure in reinforcement theory
- Operant conditioning (how consequences influence behaviour)
Skinner (cont.)
- Key concepts include the Skinner Box, which allowed for the study of behaviour in a controlled setting.
- Emphasis on how behaviour is shaped by the environment
- Emphasis on overt and covert behaviours
Classical Conditioning and Operant Conditioning
- Two basic ways in which learning happens.
Techniques of Operant Conditioning
- Reinforcement
- Punishment
- Shaping
Two Types of Consequences
- Reinforcement:Increases future behaviours
- Punishment: Decreases future behaviours
Reinforcement
- When a stimulus change follows a response then increases the future frequency of behaviours .
Punishment
- When a stimulus change follows a response and decreases the future frequency of behaviour
Consequences Reinforcements and Punishments
- Positive/negative reinforcement and punishment are different types of consequences that influence behaviour
Schedules of Reinforcement
- Continuous and Intermittent reinforcement schedules (fixed interval, fixed ratio, variable interval, variable ratio).
It Gets a Little More Complicated...
- Introduction of the three-term contingency: Antecedents, behaviour, and consequences that shape behaviour through observable and measurable events
ABC of Behavior
- Diagram representing Antecedents, Behaviour, and Consequences
Not all Behaviour is Directly Learned
- Generalisation and discrimination regarding emitted behaviour learned or innate.
Shaping Behavior Our Personality
- Differential reinforcement of successive approximations to shape a target behaviours or skills to help increase the frequency, or to decrease frequency of maladaptive behaviour
Shaping Behaviour and Our Personality(cont.)
- Reinforcing those responses that meet a specific criterion along some dimension (e.g., toilet training, table manners, studious habits).
Limitations of Radical Behaviour
- Complex cognitive behaviours (thinking/problem solving) are difficult to explain with pure behavioral frameworks
- Criticism of Functional Definitions and rule-governed behaviour.
RFT
- Emphasises frames, relationships and reinforcement of specific language behaviour to shape our environment and interactions.
What is Behaviourism?
- Overview of behaviorism as a distinct approach in psychology.
What do We Do?
- Example questions of behaviour: Do inside or do outside.
Conclusions...
- Overview, examples, and considerations regarding different types of responses to external triggers like pandemic restrictions
Conclusions... (cont.)
- Behaviourist framework: External triggers, stimuli, association, reinforcement/punishment impact responses to situations.
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