Major Paradigms in Psychology: Behaviourism

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Questions and Answers

What was one of the key contributions of Clark Leonard Hall to psychology?

Establishment of humanistic psychology principles

Pioneering research on emotional intelligence

Introduction of aptitude testing and drive theory (correct)

Development of cognitive therapy techniques

Which of the following accurately describes E.C. Tolman's view on behaviorism?

He fully supported the cause-and-effect explanation of behavior.

He believed behavior should solely be viewed through experimental methods.

He advocated for behaviorism as a comprehensive explanation of all human actions.

He criticized behaviorism for neglecting purposeful and goal-directed behavior. (correct)

Which principle is central to Hall's drive theory of behavior?

Behavior is influenced by social interactions and cultural context.

Emotional responses serve as the primary motivators of behavior.

Behavior is connected to the strength of the habit multiplied by the strength of the drive. (correct)

Learning occurs primarily through observational methods.

What was B.F. Skinner's perspective on learning and behavior?

Changes in overt behavior are fundamental to the learning process. Signup and view all the answers

What was a criticism of Clark Leonard Hall's theories?

They provided little value in explaining behavior beyond laboratory settings. Signup and view all the answers

What principle did Hermann Ebbinghaus establish regarding mental processes?

The inner working of the mind can be explained by behavior. Signup and view all the answers

Which concept did Ivan Sechenov contribute to psychology?

Both excitatory and inhibitory processes exist in the CNS. Signup and view all the answers

What field did Vladimir Bekhterev define as 'reflexology'?

The connection between stimuli and responses. Signup and view all the answers

What conclusion did Ivan Pavlov draw from his studies of salivation?

Psychic secretions indicate learning through conditioning. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes Edward Thorndike's contribution to behaviorism?

He used cats to demonstrate the trial and error process. Signup and view all the answers

What was John Watson's view on psychology as a science?

Only observable behavior should be studied. Signup and view all the answers

William McDougall's stance towards behaviorism can be characterized as:

Hostile and critical. Signup and view all the answers

What was Skinner's approach to behaviorism?

It followed an analytical structure concerned with observable behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What does psychological behaviourism primarily focus on?

Stimuli and responses Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best represents the core belief of behaviourism regarding human actions?

Humans are shaped by their environment. Signup and view all the answers

How does psychological behaviourism propose mental terms should be treated?

They should be eliminated and replaced with behavioural terms. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following psychologists is most closely associated with the concept of applied behaviour analysis?

B.F. Skinner Signup and view all the answers

The concept of behaviourism asserts that psychology is primarily the science of what?

Behaviour Signup and view all the answers

What is a fundamental assumption of behaviourism regarding human responsibility?

Humans have limited control over their responses. Signup and view all the answers

What term refers to the instructional and predictive aspect of behaviourism?

Applied behaviour analysis Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes analytical behaviourism?

Explains mental states through observable behavior. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Major Paradigms in Psychology: Behaviourism

Behaviourism's central tenet is that a science of behaviour is possible and should be psychology.
All sciences evolved from philosophy, breaking free from philosophical assumptions.
Philosophy reasons from assumptions to conclusions, while science proceeds in the opposite direction (from conclusions to evidence).
Biology separated from philosophy and theology similarly, focusing on internal animal mechanisms.
19th-century psychology studied the mind using introspection, aiming to observe internal mental processes.
Voluntarism and structuralism were introspectionist schools of thought attempting to overcome the subjectivity of introspection.
Voluntarism, founded by Wilhelm Wundt, focused on the voluntary nature of attention and perception.
Structuralism, founded by Titchener, aimed to identify the fundamental structures of consciousness.
Introspection was the primary method used in both schools.
Two opposing arguments undermined introspection: objective psychology and comparative psychology.
Objective psychology questioned the reliability of introspection.
Comparative psychology focused on animal behaviour to explore the continuity of species.
Functionalism, originating in the U.S., emphasized the utility of consciousness and behavior in adapting to the environment.
William James was a key figure in functionalism.
Early behaviorism, led by John Watson, emphasized observable behavior, rejecting internal mental processes.
Watson believed psychology's focus should be on observable behaviour and how it varies with experience.
B.F. Skinner was a prominent post-Watson behaviorist, known for applying behavioral analysis to applied settings.
His methods influenced fields like education and therapy.
Behaviorism's assumptions include a naturalistic approach, viewing individuals as responding machines to learned conditions.
It emphasizes the role of conditioning, not internal mental activity, in shaping behavior.
It aims to understand and control actions using observable behaviours.
Behaviorism is on the nurture side of the nature vs. nurture debate, arguing that behaviour is a product of learning and experience.

Methodological Behaviorism

Focuses on observable organism behaviour as the subject of study.
Mental events are irrelevant to the understanding of behaviours.
Focus on behaviors, not mental processes to understand behaviour.

Psychological Behaviorism

Explains behaviour using external factors.
Relies on stimulus, response, learning history, and reinforcement concepts to interpret behaviour. Key figures include Pavlov, Thorndike, Watson.

Analytical Behaviorism

Focuses on the meaning of mental terms and concepts.
Views mental states as behavioural tendencies.
Skinner's radical behaviorism encompasses all three styles.
Concerned wtih behaviour of organisms, not internal mental processes. Emphasizes the relationships between behaviour and observable factors such as reinforcement.

Key Figures

Wilhelm Wundt: Founder of experimental psychology, influential in voluntarism.
Edward Titchener: Developed structuralism.
John Watson: Key figure in early behaviorism.
B.F. Skinner: Prominent behaviourist, known for applying behaviour analysis.

Other concepts

Introspection: Method of observing one's own conscious experience.
Stimulus-response: Basic unit of learning in behaviorism, emphasizing associations.
Reinforcement: Encouraging a behaviour.
Conditioning: Any kind of learning, such as classical or operant conditioning.
Operant conditioning: Learning occurs through consequences.

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Description

This quiz explores the central tenets of Behaviourism and its role in the evolution of psychology. Delve into the comparisons between Behaviourism, Voluntarism, and Structuralism, highlighting their methodologies and philosophical roots. Test your knowledge on the key figures and concepts that shaped these paradigms.