Lecture Notes: Behaviorism

Introduction to Behaviorism

• Originated in late 19th century Russia.
• Major figures: Ivan Pavlov, John B. Watson, B.F. Skinner.

Ivan Pavlov and Classical Conditioning

• Pavlov's experiment with dogs and salivation.
  • Dogs salivated naturally when they saw food.
  • Pavlov paired food (stimulus) with a bell (neutral stimulus).
  • Dogs started salivating at the sound of the bell alone.
• Classical Conditioning
  • Learning process that involves pairing a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus to elicit a conditioned response.

John B. Watson and Behaviorism

• American psychologist inspired by Pavlov's work.
• Advocated for psychology to be based on facts and observable measurements.
• Famous for his bold claim about shaping children’s futures through environmental changes.
• Little Albert Experiment
  • Conditioned fear response in an infant.
  • Used loud noise as unconditioned stimulus to provoke fear.
  • Associated white rat (neutral stimulus) with loud noise to make rat a conditioned stimulus.
  • Little Albert cried at the sight of the rat (conditioned response).

B.F. Skinner and Operant Conditioning

• Born in 1904, known as the father of operant conditioning.
• Conducted experiments with animals in the "Skinner box".
• Believed in studying psychology through observation and experimentation.
• Operant Conditioning
  • Involves changing behavior through reinforcement or punishment.
  • Focuses on voluntary behaviors that operate on the environment.
  • Emphasizes motivation behind actions.

Key Differences: Classical vs. Operant Conditioning

• Classical Conditioning
  • Involuntary responses.
  • Timing of response is altered.
• Operant Conditioning
  • Voluntary behaviors.
  • Behavior is influenced by consequences (reinforcement/punishment).