Chapter Notes PDF: Introduction to Behaviorism

Introduction Behavior - observable, measurable activity; may be internal or external Learning - permanent change in behavior resulting from experience Classical Conditioning - process whereby inborn behaviors are elicited in new circumstances Operant conditioning - behavior strengthening or weaken...

Introduction Behavior - observable, measurable activity; may be internal or external Learning - permanent change in behavior resulting from experience Classical Conditioning - process whereby inborn behaviors are elicited in new circumstances Operant conditioning - behavior strengthening or weakening as the result of consequences Observational learning - observing someone else’s bx Plato vs. Aristotle Aristotle —> empiricist (nurture) person’s abilities and tendencies are learned Plato —> Nativist —> nature perspective assumes a person’s abilities Mind-body dualism (Rene Decartes) the idea that the body functions like a machine, but mind has free will —> voluntary bxs Helped establish study of re exive bxs Structuralist Approach identify basic elements to determine structure of the mind Functionalist Approach (William James) the mind evolved to help us adapt to the world around us Should be study of adaptive processes, not structure of mind Natural Selection organisms are capable of adapting to environmental pressures are more likely to reproduce 1. Traits vary 2. Traits passed on to offspring 3. Organisms must compete/cooperate for limited resources Schools of Behaviorism 1. Methodological ○ psychologists should study only directly observable bx ○ Stimulus-response theory - connection formed between speci c stimulus and fi fl 2. Neobehavioralism ○ stimulus response connections are building blocks of bx ○ Environment and bx 3.Cognitive Behaviorism utilizing intervening variables usually hypothetical cognitive processes to explain bx Cognitive map - mental representation of one’s spatial surroundings 4. Social learning theory/reciprocal emphasizes the importance of observational learning + cognitive variables explaining human bx Reciprocal - assumes environmental events, observable bx, and thoughts may in uence one another 5.Radical emphasizes in uence of environment on observable bx Rejecting internal events to explain bx Self control - when we understand how environment affects us, we can change environment to our bene t B.F. Skinner father of bx analysis Theories about self disciple and verbal bx fl fi Research Methods Independent - the one that is manipulated in experiments Quasi-independent - an independent variable cannot be experimentally manipulated Dependent - measured variable Appetitive stimulus - event that an organism will seek out Aversive stimulus - an event that an organism will avoid Establishing operation - an event that increases likelihood of response Abolishing operation - an event that decreases likelihood of response Satiation - prolonged exposure to or consumption of a stimulus Deprivation - prolonged absence of a stimulus Measure of Bx 1. Rate of response - # of responses that occur in a time period 2. Intensity - magnitude of bx 3. Speed - how slow or fast of a bx 4. Duration - length of time of continuous bx 5. Latency - amount of time before a bx begins Interval recording - measurement of whether a bx occurs during each interval Time-sampling recording - whether bx occurs during each interval Topography - observing physical form of bx Validity - measure of how well operationalization actually captures Reliability - measure of how consistent a method is at producing consistent results Descriptive Research Study involves gathering and describing information about bx; dord not manipulate independent variables 1. Surveys - participants answer set of questions 2. Case studies - intensive studies of a single individual 3. Naturalistic observation - observes and records of occurrence of bx within natural environment Experimental Research identi es functional relationships through manipulation of independent variables Advantages: 1. More experimental control 2. Functional and causal relationships can be identi ed Disadvantages: 1. Requires large # of subjects 2. Analyzed and interpreted only at the end of experiment Single-Comparison (AB) Design bx in a baseline condition compared to bx in experimental/treatment condition Reversal (ABA) Design repeated alternations of simple comparison Multiple Baseline Designs treatment is instituted at successive pints in time for two or more person, settings or bx Advantages: 1. do not withdraw treatment if determined effective 2. Appropriate when treatment is likely produce permanent changie in bx Disadvantages: 1. need to have more than one person, setting, or bx 2. Treatment effect might generalize across different settings or bxs Changing-Criterion Design treatment is demonstrated by how closely bx matches a criterion that is systemically altered fi fi Advantage: 1. ideal when bx intended to change gradually Disadvantage: 1. Dif cult to determine if change in bx is result of treatment unless bx matches changing criteria Animal Behavioral Research Advantages: 1. research cannot ethically be conducted with humans 2. Can control genetic in uences on bx Disadvantages: 1. Violation of human rights 2. Limited application of ndings to humans fi fi fl