Behaviorism

Behaviorism:

1/5/2011 Behaviorism- A presentation by Sanjay Singh 1 Behaviorism Classical & Neo “Man is born capable of learning.”- Rousseau

Previous Year Questions::

1/5/2011 Behaviorism- A presentation by Sanjay Singh 2 Previous Year Questions: 2009: Critically examine the major formulations of behaviorism from 1930-1950. 2008: Classical Behaviorism (SN) 2007: Evaluate the contributions of Watsonian Behaviorism. 2006: Classical Behaviorism (SN) 2005: Elucidate the principles of behaviorism w.s.r. to Watson’s theory. 2004: Basic tenets of Behaviouristic school (SN) 2003: Evaluate the contribution of any one behaviorist to behaviorism. 2002: Discuss the basic features of Watsonian Behaviorism.

What is Behaviorism?:

1/5/2011 Behaviorism- A presentation by Sanjay Singh 3 What is Behaviorism? Behaviorism is a system of psychology that admits only overt, observable and measurable behavior as its subject matter (Brennan, 2003)

Types of Behaviorism:

1/5/2011 Behaviorism- A presentation by Sanjay Singh 4 Types of Behaviorism Neo- Behaviorism (1930- 1960) Methodological Behaviorism Metaphysical Behaviorism Classical Behaviorism or Watsonian Behaviorism (1912-1930) Radical Behaviorism (Skinner) Purposive Behaviorism (Tolman)

Classical Behaviourism (1912- 1930):

1/5/2011 Behaviorism- A presentation by Sanjay Singh 5 Classical Behaviourism (1912- 1930) Classical behaviourism is a system of psychology that adopts a position that all psychological functions can be explained in terms of overt, observable & measurable nerve impulses, muscular movements and glandular secretions ( Marx & Hillix, 1986 ). It was formally founded by Watson’s 1913 paper Psychology as the Behaviorist Views it (First published in Psychological Review , 20 , 158-177 ). Hence it is also known as Watsonian Behaviourism .

Main Features of Classical Behaviourism (Wolman, 2007):

1/5/2011 Behaviorism- A presentation by Sanjay Singh 6 Main Features of Classical Behaviourism (Wolman, 2007) Determinism Empiricism Reductionism Environmentalism Operationism Logical Positivism (Leahey, 2006)

Major Postulates of Classical Behaviourism (Marx & Hillix, 1986):

1/5/2011 Behaviorism- A presentation by Sanjay Singh 7 Major Postulates of Classical Behaviourism (Marx & Hillix, 1986) Behaviour is composed of response elements & can be successfully analysed in by objective natural scientific methods. Behaviour is entirely composed of glandular secretions & mascular movements, and hence is reducible ultimately to physiochemical processes. Every effective stimulus leads to some response, for every response these is a stimulus. Thus there is strict cause and effect determinism of behaviour. Conscious processes, if at all they exist, cannot be scientifically studied.

Major Contributions of Classical Behaviourism:

1/5/2011 Behaviorism- A presentation by Sanjay Singh 8 Major Contributions of Classical Behaviourism Objectifying Psychology Behaviourism is credited with bringing psychology a scientific status by laying strict emphasis on observable & measurable behaviour as the subject matter of psychology. “today every American Psychologist whether he knows it or not, is a methodological behaviourist” ( Bergman, 1956 ). Contribution to Mind Body Issue: Watson denied the status of mind because of its doubtful scientific relevance & scientific plausibility (Mc Dougall, 1929, The Battle of Behaviourism) Heuristic Value: Watson was “a dramatic polemicist & an enthusiastic leader” (Boring, 1950), “a completer & a consummator…the greatest of all functionalists” ( Bergman, 1956 ). Ending the mysticism surrounding Psychology & making it a public knowledge

Criticism of Classical Behaviorism:

1/5/2011 Behaviorism- A presentation by Sanjay Singh 9 Criticism of Classical Behaviorism Criticism of Methodological Behaviourism: Watsonian Behaviourism was Methodologically incomplete (Mc Dougall, 1929) Cannot study sensation & perception as it denies mental aspects ( Woodworth, 1948 ) Study of after images through verbal reports is a kind of defeat of methodological behaviourism ( Woodworth, 1948 ). A Muscle – Twitch Psychology which fails to take into account the purposive behaviour ( Tolman, 1932 ) A reductionist psychology that fails to take into account the whole picture ( Gestalt Psychologists)

Criticism…continued:

1/5/2011 Behaviorism- A presentation by Sanjay Singh 10 Criticism…continued Criticism of Metaphysical Behaviourism The crowning absurdity…mind is such an obvious thing of which fools may as sure as wise men ( Angell, 1913) Watson’s “planned divorce” between psychology and metaphysics is responsible for alienation of behaviouristic psychology (Hunter, 1924) “Will I be angry only kymograph tells me my blood pressure?” (Heidbreder, 1933)

Criticism…continued:

1/5/2011 Behaviorism- A presentation by Sanjay Singh 11 Criticism…continued Criticism of Watson’s Experimental Ethics Experimental ethics was watsons visionary plan to lay foudation of a saner living based on behaviouristic principles (Watson, 1925) It was based on the premises like mechanism, determinism, etc, that totally denies the agency of free will and says that all acts are physically determined in advance. Critics say that such view will promote unlawful activities like criminality, war

Neo – Behaviourism (1930-1960):

1/5/2011 Behaviorism- A presentation by Sanjay Singh 12 Neo – Behaviourism (1930-1960) Definition: an approach that (like classical behaviourasm) focuses on the behaviour of organism as the source of its primary data but also allows for the use of unobservables and covert processes as explanatory devices (Reber & Reber, 2001). Major Neo Behaviourists were Skinner, Tolman, Hull, Guthrie

Differences between Classical Behaviourism & Neo Behaviourism:

1/5/2011 Behaviorism- A presentation by Sanjay Singh 13 Differences between Classical Behaviourism & Neo Behaviourism Criteria Classical Behaviorism Neo- Behaviorism Focus Focuses only on overt & measurable behavior also allows for the use of unobservable and covert processes as explanatory devices Features Mechanistic determinism Purposive, Instrumental Approach Molecular, reductionist, Physiological Molar, analytical, Cognitive Method Classical Conditioning, Verbal Reports Instrumental Conditioning, Latent Learning Learning Paradigms S-S Learning, S-R Learning S-O-R Learning View of Organism Passive, reflex behavior Mutual Influence, operant behavior

Radical Behaviourism (Science & Human Behaviour, Skinner, 1953):

1/5/2011 Behaviorism- A presentation by Sanjay Singh 14 Radical Behaviourism (Science & Human Behaviour, Skinner, 1953) Definition: it is a philosophy of science developed by B.F. Skinner which offers an experimental analysis analysis of behaviour (Leahey, 2006). Skinner called his version of behaviourism radical because the word radical in Latin means “root” (= radix) , and skinner considered his version of behaviourism a thoroughgoing “deep” behaviourism.

Main Features of Radical Behaviourism (Leahey, 2006; Donohue & Ferguson, 2001):

1/5/2011 Behaviorism- A presentation by Sanjay Singh 15 Main Features of Radical Behaviourism (Leahey, 2006; Donohue & Ferguson, 2001) Evolutionary influence from Darwins theory: organism learns to repeat only those behaviours that are adaptive Non-Realism: abstracts mental concepts have no objective reality Functionalism: B= f (E) Environmentalism: Behaviour is the locus of Environmental Stimuli Determinism: All behaviour is determined (by contingencies of reinforcement) Mutual Influence: The relationship between organism & environment is interdependent, reciprocal and of mutual influence. Inductive Approach: Moving from particular to General Experimental Analysis of Behaviour Respondent Behaviour (Reflex Behaviour) Operant Behaviour (Reinforced Behaviour)

Criticism of Skinner (Donohue & Ferguson, 2001):

1/5/2011 Behaviorism- A presentation by Sanjay Singh 16 Criticism of Skinner (Donohue & Ferguson, 2001) Atheoretical, mere description is not enough RB does not make a difference between rats, cats, robots, puppets, machines & human beings. The Skinnerian science of behaviour cannot explain creative behaviour as seen in music, literature & science. Skinners analysis of punishment is at best only partially true (Carpenter, 1974). [Skinner was not in favour of punishing criminals. He favoured positive reinforcement to them. But how society will fight hardened criminals?] Skinners experimental analysis of behaviour has only limited relevance for explain either a very complex behaviour (eg, creativity) or a very simple behavioiur (eg, a person remembers his name without any reinforcement) The Misbehaviour of Organism (Marian Breland & Keller Breland, 1961). They reported an “instinctual drift” in various organisms (reindeers, pigs, chickens, etc.) trained by them breaking all the laws of operant conditioning.

Purposive Behaviourism in Animals & Men (Tolman, 1932):

1/5/2011 Behaviorism- A presentation by Sanjay Singh 17 Purposive Behaviourism in Animals & Men (Tolman, 1932) Behaviour is purposive Purposive behaviour involves cognition. Animal learn to make cognitive maps based on the principle of least effort. Sign Learning (learning of relationship among signs, their references & outcomes) is important for development of cognitive maps. Development of cognitive maps do not depend upon the physiological need state of the organism. Organism reaches to its goal through a hypothesis testing processes. When a hypothesis is confirmed it acts like a reinforcement. Behaviour is molar.

Latent Learning in Rats (Tolman & Honzik, 1930):

1/5/2011 Behaviorism- A presentation by Sanjay Singh 18 Latent Learning in Rats (Tolman & Honzik, 1930)

Critical Evaluation of Tolman:

1/5/2011 Behaviorism- A presentation by Sanjay Singh 19 Critical Evaluation of Tolman His theory doesn't easily lend itself to empirical scrutiny because of large number of intervening variable (Hergenhahn & Olson, 2008) The overemphasis on Intervening variable concept may regress back psychology to mentalistic & metaphysical orientation of 19 th century (Malone, 1991). Tolman failed to develop a logically integrated theory of behavior (Marx & Hillix, 1986). Neglecting overt behavior. “Tolman leaves the rat buried in thought” (Guthrie, 1935).