Overview
This lecture covers the foundations of behaviorism in psychology, focusing on Ivan Pavlov’s classical conditioning, B.F. Skinner’s operant conditioning, and key concepts like reinforcement and reinforcement schedules.
Pavlov and Classical Conditioning
- Ivan Pavlov’s research shifted psychology toward empirically studying observable behavior.
- Pavlov discovered dogs could learn to associate unrelated stimuli (like a bell) with food, causing salivation.
- Classical conditioning: a natural (unconditioned) stimulus is paired with a neutral stimulus until the neutral one elicits the same response.
- Before conditioning: food = unconditioned stimulus (US), salivation = unconditioned response (UR); bell = neutral stimulus, no salivation.
- During conditioning: bell (neutral stimulus) + food (US) → salivation (UR).
- After conditioning: bell becomes conditioned stimulus (CS), causing conditioned response (CR) — salivation.
- This demonstrated associative learning, where subjects link events, behaviors, or stimuli.
Behaviorism and Key Figures
- Behaviorism emphasizes objective observation of behavior, ignoring unobservable mental processes.
- John B. Watson built on Pavlov, famously conditioning "Little Albert" to fear furry objects.
- Watson’s experiments generalized that conditioned fears could branch out to similar stimuli.
Operant Conditioning and B.F. Skinner
- Operant conditioning involves associating behavior with consequences (reinforcement or punishment).
- B.F. Skinner developed the operant chamber ("Skinner Box") to observe animal learning via reinforcement.
- Shaping: reinforcing successive approximations of desired behavior.
- Positive reinforcement adds a desirable stimulus (reward) after a behavior.
- Negative reinforcement removes an aversive stimulus to increase behavior.
- Punishment decreases behavior; not to be confused with negative reinforcement.
Reinforcers and Reinforcement Schedules
- Primary reinforcers are innately satisfying (food, relief from pain).
- Conditioned (secondary) reinforcers gain value by association with primary reinforcers (like money).
- Continuous reinforcement: every response is reinforced, but stops quickly if reinforcement ends (extinction).
- Partial (intermittent) reinforcement: behavior reinforced only sometimes, more resistant to extinction.
Limitations and Controversies
- Behaviorists claimed behavior is shaped only by external factors, ignoring internal thoughts and emotions.
- Critics argue that cognitive processes also influence learning.
- The next lecture will address cognition and observational learning.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Behaviorism — psychological approach focused on observable behaviors, not mental processes.
- Classical Conditioning — learning by associating a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus to produce a conditioned response.
- Operant Conditioning — learning where behavior is shaped by reinforcement or punishment.
- Reinforcement — any consequence that increases the likelihood of a behavior.
- Punishment — any consequence that decreases the likelihood of a behavior.
- Extinction — reduction of a learned response when reinforcement stops.
- Primary Reinforcer — naturally satisfying stimulus (like food or pain relief).
- Conditioned (Secondary) Reinforcer — stimulus that gains value through association with a primary reinforcer.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the steps and terminology of classical and operant conditioning.
- Prepare for next week’s lesson on cognitive influences and observational learning.