History of Psychology Sara Barnett Class 7 Behaviorism History of Psychology Sara Barnett Class 7

Food for Thought Give me a dozen healthy infants, well-formed, and my own specified world to bring them up in and I’ll guarantee to take any one at random and train him to become any type of specialist I might select -- doctor, lawyer, artist, merchant-chief and, yes, even beggar-man and thief, regardless of his talents, penchants, tendencies, abilities, vocations, and race of his ancestors. --John Watson, Behaviorism, 1930

Agenda Announcements Review of the History of Behaviorism Review of Learning Theory Review of Treatment Methods in Behavioral Therapy Visualization Exercise Questions, Comments, Concerns

Announcement Unit 7 Project is due next Tuesday – suggested outline is posted in Document Sharing Good job on DBs and projects thus far!

Behaviorism The study of observable human behavior Dominant school of thought in the 1920s Basis for learning theory (classical conditioning, operant conditioning, observational learning) Famous names: John Watston & BF Skinner

John B. Watson John Broadus Watson (1878-1958) First PhD from University of Chicago (1904) Professor/researcher at Johns Hopkins University - Private experience of the mind = too vague to measure/accurately assess - Psychologists should focus solely on what people do - Psychologists should study how to predict and control behavior, for the betterment of society - Studied animal behavior as means for studying that of people (influenced by Pavlov; famous for Little Albert experiment)

BF Skinner Burrhus Frederick Skinner (1904-1990) Completed PhD at Harvard - Sought to understand how animals learn to act - Built “conditioning chamber” – identified principal of reinforcement - Advised the society incentivise healthy living and good will using this principal

Criticisms of Behaviorism Ignores the mental process (i.e., doesn’t explain how children learn language) Ignored evolutionary theory (i.e., why does a rate associate nausea with food more so than it does with light) Ignored alternative theories on intrinsic motivation and non-rational actions

Learning in Behaviorism Classical Conditioning Operant Conditioning Observational Learning

Example of Classical Conditioning You eat a new food and then get sick because of the flu. However, you develop a dislike for the food and feel nauseated whenever you smell it. This example is classical conditioning because nausea is an automatic response. The flu sickness is the US. The nausea is the UR. The new food is the CS. The nausea to the new food is the CR.

Examples of Classical Conditioning An individual receives frequent injections of drugs, which are administered in a small examination room at a clinic. The drug itself causes increased heart rate but after several trips to the clinic, simply being in a small room causes an increased heart rate. This example is classical conditioning because the increased heart rate is an automatic response. The drug is the US. The accelerated heart rate is the UR. The small room is the CS. The accelerated heart rate to the room is the CR.

Examples of Operant Conditioning A lion in a circus learns to stand up on a chair and jump through a hoop to receive a food treat. This example is operant conditioning because standing on a chair and jumping through a hoop are voluntary behaviors. The food treat is a positive reinforcement because it is given and it increases the behavior.

Examples of Operant Conditioning Your car has a red, flashing light that blinks annoyingly if you start the car without buckling the seat belt. You become less likely to start the car without buckling the seat belt. This example is operant conditioning because buckling a seat belt is voluntary. The flashing light is a positive punishment. The consequence is given . The behavior of not buckling the seat belt decreases.

Observant Learning Observational learning (also known as vicarious learning, social learning, or modeling) is a type of learning that occurs as a function of observing, retaining and replicating novel behavior executed by others Note: observational learning is NOT the same as imitation

Behavioral Therapy Aims to treat psychopathology through techniques designed to reinforce desired and extinguish undesired behaviors Based on the notion that retraining the behavior in turn retrains the mind Most often used in combination with traditional counseling Appropriate for short-term therapy Proven effective in the treatment of phobias, in particular

Behavioral Therapy Techniques Relaxation Techniques (imagery, meditation) Homework (journaling, reading up on a subject, keeping a calendar of events) Role-Play (practicing behaviors with the therapist) Exposure Therapy (facing fears head on)

Questions What do you think about these therapeutic techniques? Which sounds like a technique that you would use? Which sounds like a technique that would work for you as the client?

Visualization Exercise Just relax…

Questions, Comments, Reflections? ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????