Psychology Chapter 1.2: Behaviorism

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Study Notes

Ivan Pavlov explored conditioned reflexes, revealing how responses can be elicited through association rather than direct stimuli.
Salivation in response to food illustrated how a neutral stimulus (e.g., a sound) could trigger a conditioned response when paired with an unconditioned stimulus.
John B. Watson shifted psychology's focus from the mind to observable behavior, founding behaviorism, and emphasized learned behavior’s interplay with innate qualities.
B.F. Skinner concentrated on behavior modification through consequences, introducing reinforcement and punishment as crucial components of learning.
The Operant Conditioning Chamber (Skinner Box) allowed experimentation on behavioral responses by isolating subjects and measuring their reactions to rewards or punishments.

Humanism emphasizes the inherent potential for goodness in all people, promoting personal growth and self-actualization.
Abraham Maslow proposed a hierarchy of needs, where fulfillment of basic needs forms the foundation for pursuing higher-level needs, culminating in self-actualization.
Carl Rogers developed client-centered therapy, allowing patients to take a lead role in their treatment, contrasting with traditional psychoanalytic approaches.
Essential therapist attributes for effective client-centered therapy include unconditional positive regard, genuineness, and empathy.

The cognitive revolution marked a renewed interest in studying the mind scientifically, significantly influenced by Noam Chomsky’s ideas.

Certain populations, particularly WEIRD societies (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic), have been over-studied, leading to misapplication of findings to non-WEIRD societies.
Cultural and environmental factors contribute to variations in human behavior, prompting multicultural psychology to develop theories that reflect diverse populations.
Cross-cultural psychologists conduct comparative studies, focusing on differences between societies, such as comparing behavioral patterns in the US and China.
Francis Cecil Sumner was the first African American to earn a PhD in psychology in the US, while Margaret Floy Washburn was the first woman to achieve this honor.

The American Psychological Association (APA) encompasses 54 divisions and was initially presided over by G. Stanley Hall.
The Association for Psychological Science (APS), founded in 1988, promotes a scientific approach to psychology.

Biopsychology examines the impact of biological factors on behavior, covering topics like sensory systems, sleep patterns, and substance use.
Evolutionary psychology investigates the biological roots of behavior, asserting that behaviors must have a genetic basis to be influenced by natural selection.
Limitations exist in studies of adaptive behavior, particularly when distinguishing genetic influences from cultural factors.