M6_Behaviorist.docx

DISCERNING BEHAVIORIST CONCEPTS What motivates human beings? What can explain our decisions, actions and behavior? According to the behavioral perspective, the way we behave and learn can be **explained through our Interactions with the environment.** Our actions are always **responses to stimuli....

DISCERNING BEHAVIORIST CONCEPTS What motivates human beings? What can explain our decisions, actions and behavior? According to the behavioral perspective, the way we behave and learn can be **explained through our Interactions with the environment.** Our actions are always **responses to stimuli.** which either occur **naturally** or because of a **learned response.** **Defining behaviorism** **Behaviorism** is a grand theory of human development that studies **observable behavior**. It describes the laws and processes by which **behavior is learned**. It is a psychological theory of human development that posits that humans can be **trained, or conditioned, to respond in specific ways to specific stimuli** and that given the correct stimuli, personalities and behaviors of individuals, and even entire civilizations, can be codified and controlled. THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPMENT BASED ON BEHAVIORAL PERSPECTIVE 1\. The Behavioural perspective of development suggests that human development can be understood by **observing how people behave in response to environmental stimuli.** Behaviorism is **theory of learning** and learning theories focus on how we are conditioned to respond to events or stimull. 2\. The Behavioral Theories or pespective suggests that the keys to understanding development are observable behavior and outside stimul in the environment. **If we know the stimuli, we can predict the behavior.** 3\. The behavioral perspective or theories reflects the view that **nurture is more important to development than nature.** 4\. Theories of behaviorism opposes the idea that everyone goes through a set of stages, Instead, they assume that **individuals are impacted by the environmental stimuli to which they are accidentally / intentionally exposed.** 5\. Developmental patterns are personal and represent a specific set continuous exposure to a certain environmental component or combination of environmental stimuli, and behaviour is the end effect. 6\. Developmental change is seen in quantitative terms rather than qualitatively. CENTRAL PRINCIPLES OF CONDITIONING THE PROCESS OF CONDITIONING **Conditioning**, in [physiology], is a behavioral process whereby a response becomes more frequent or more predictable in a given [environment] as a result of reinforcement, with reinforcement typically being a stimulus or reward for a desired response. THE 2 TYPES OF CONDITIONING **Classical Conditioning** First described by Ivan Pavlov, a Russian physiologist, Classical conditioning is a process that involves creating an **association between a naturally existing stimulus and a previously neutral one.** Focuses on involuntary, automatic behaviors and involves placing a neutral signal before a reflex. **Operant Conditioning** First described by B. F. Skinner, an American psychologist, Operant conditioning (or [instrumental conditioning]) focuses on **using either reinforcement or punishment to Increase or decrease a behavior.** Through this process, an association is formed between the behavior and the consequences of that behavior. It focuses on strengthening or weakening voluntary behaviors. **THE STIMULUS RESPONSE THEORY** The stimulus-response theory, proposed by Edward Thorndike in 1905, suggests that **behavior is influenced by the consequences of one\'s actions**. it posits that individuals learn through **trial and error**, with behaviors leading to positive outcomes being reinforced and those leading to negative outcomes being diminished. **Law of effect** First proposed by psychologist Edward Thorndike, according to the law of effect, **behaviors that are followed by consequences that are satisfying to the organism are more likely to be repeated, and behaviors that are followed by unpleasant consequences are less likely to be repeated.** **REINFORCEMENTS & ITS TYPES** **Reinforcement** means to strengthen and is used in psychology to [refer to any stimulus which strengthens or increases the probability of a specific response.] **Positive reinforcement** - involves adding something in order to increase a response. **Negative reinforcement** - involves taking something negative away in order to Increase a response. **Punishment** - refers to adding something aversive in order to decrease a behavior. **Extinction** - involves removing something In order to decrease a behavior.