The Foundation of Behaviorism - Essay Example

? Behaviorism Research Paper Briarcliff College Behaviorism J. B. Watson laid the foundation of Behaviorism OR Behavioral Psychology, with the publication of his paper ‘Psychology as the Behaviorists view it’ in 1913; catering the belief that all behaviors are attributes that are measureable, trainable and changeable (Cherry, 2012). Watson saw psychology from the perspective that it was not a study of the mind or consciousness; rather it was a measure of behavior and that humans like apes and rats could have their behavior objectively studied (DeMar, 1989). Behaviorists believe that behavior can be measured irrespective of the internal mental states and the objectivity of behavior measurement suggests that only the observable behaviors should be studied as the internal states like emotions and cognitions have high subjective quality to them and bear no consideration when measuring behavior (Cherry, 2012). A behaviorist sees no difference between two mental or cognitive states until they have a marked and demonstrable behavioral difference associated with each state of mind; behavioral psychologists look for a behavioral explanation and evidence for hypothesis (Graham, 2000). Behaviorism regards that the learner has a passive role and only responds to the stimuli that are provided from the environment (Learning-theories, 2013). Behavioral psychology being based in learning theory suggests that all behaviors are based in conditioning which occurs when behavior interacts with the environment (Cherry, 2012). Main Premise The main premise of the behavioral psychology encircles these concepts: Naturalistic and objective (Hauser, 2005), approach of behaviorism; man is deprived of any mind or soul and only the brain has the capacity of response towards external stimuli (DeMar, 1989). Disregard for introspection to gather scientific data (Hauser, 2005), behavior results from conditioning. Manipulative tendency of behaviorism renders it the ability to not only predict but also control behavior (DeMar, 1989). Irresponsibility for personal actions, as man only responds to external stimuli and thus behavior is inevitable result of operating in the environment (DeMar, 1989). Disregard for the inner computational or cognitive processes playing a part between the environmental stimuli and the resulting behavior (Hauser, 2005). Types of Behaviorism Behaviorism has three types: methodological, psychological, and analytical or logical behaviorism. Methodological behaviorism implies that organism behavior should be the apex of psychological study and not the internal process of the physiological functions and how they mediate between environment and behavior (Graham, 2010). Physiological behaviorism is centered at describing the human behavior with regards to the external stimuli and their responses, learning and reinforcement (Graham, 2010). Analytical behaviorism has its roots in philosophy and states that when cognitions and mental states are associated with behavior it gives rise to the notion of a dispositional behavior, becoming clear from how a person might behave in one situation as opposed to another (Graham, 2010). Historical Background and Contributions to Behavioral Psychology John Watson being a doctoral student was interested in Ivan Pavlov’s conditioned responses and applied the stimulus-response approach to behavioral study (pbs, 2013). Between the years 1908 – 1912 he started voicing his ideas and had already started using the term ‘behaviorist’ by 1912; with the publication of ‘Psychology as the behaviorists view it’ in 1913 he formally established behaviorism as a school of psychology (pbs, 2013). Behaviorism gained approval of psychologists and general public and reached apex during 1920-1960, and Watson’s behaviorism has been changed over the years with psychologists like B. F. Skinner working for it. John B. Watson and Behaviorism According to Watson, behaviorism is purely experimental, aiming to predict and control animal behavior and does not account for introspection as a means of gathering data (pbs, 2013). Watson wanted to give psychology an experimental and objective base. Watson’s conducted his famous experiment with the baby Albert B. Baby Albert was handed a white rat, of which he was not afraid, but as soon as he wanted to touch the rat Watson and his assistant would sound a loud metal clang behind Albert’s head, making him cry (pbs, 2013). When Albert was 11 months old the same experiment was repeated and the clang made Albert cry and he was afraid not only of the rat but every furry creature, even stuffed toys; successfully proving Watson’s idea that humans/higher order animals develop associations (pbs, 2013). Watson believed that introspection had failed to convert the subjective experiences into objective experimental science (Hauser, 2005). Radical Behaviorism Radical behaviorism was developed by B. F. Skinner, and had the distinction of accepting the role of mediating structures and emotions etc. in behaviors (Learning-theories, 2013). Skinner believed that the inner processes exist and are behaviors themselves and in need of explanation, but they do not have any role in the measurement, control and prediction of behavior (Hauser, 2005). He believed that the inner behavior (cognitive activity) is different from the outside (public) behavior and one cannot but explain the other (Graham, 2010). Skinner is the only behavioral psychologist who presented a social and political world view and explained the utopia if based upon the behavioral principles (Graham, 2010). Skinner also rejects that humans possess the tendency of creating their own environments, whereas our environments are what we make them, we build our own world around us (Graham, 2010). Relevance and Application of Behaviorism Although founded by a psychologist behaviorism has had a wide field of application. Behaviorist methods and applications are applied in education, sociology, sociobiology which believes that human moral values have their roots in biology (DeMar, 1989). Psychology works on studying behavior as one of its fundamental tasks, and concentrates on methodological objectivism while aiming to increase the understanding of the scientific basis of animal behavior with the purpose of predicting and controlling the behavior (Wozniak, 1997). Behaviorism is the objective methodological study of behavior, thus contributing to the research and study of behavior, its control and prediction (Wozniak, 1997). Psychology and behaviorism both work and aim to emphasize the scientific base for psychology and prediction and control of behavior (Wozniak, 1997); with these principle having the behaviorists confirmed that they could look to marked exceptional development of Psycho-technology in the 20th century (Dashiell cited in Wozniak, 1997). Behaviorism is significant for its easy applicability to the real world. Since behaviorist theories have statistical representation of the data gathered, thus their application and measurement is simple (allpsych, 2012). Behaviorist views are applied to the real world in the form of behavior modification techniques; application of learned helplessness to the treatment of depression, domestic violence etc. Behavior Modification refers to the change that is brought about in the behavior or interaction capability of a person through employment of techniques like shaping, and systematic desensitization (allpsych, 2012). Shaping is the reinforcing of successive approximation of behavior that is close to the desired behavior; and has been successfully applied to treatment of phobias and anxiety disorders (allpsych, 2012). Where shaping works on the disorder from the least feared to the most feared scenario by reinforcing the behavior, systematic desensitization looks to relaxing the client in the presence of the feared scenario by employing the principles of classical conditioning; and where the client use to fear the situation, he learns to be relaxed in the presence of the feared stimulus (allpsych, 2012). Learned helplessness means to be helplessness under situations which are not out of our control; and has been applied to the treatment of depressive behavior, elderly adults and abusive relationships (allpsych, 2012). Resolution of Personal Situation My friend suffered from the phobia of dogs and would never cross the street whenever there was a dog in sight. We thought of applying the technique of behavior modification to his fear. By employing the principles of shaping my friends fear started going away. First he was handed a stuffed dog toy and then a rubber dog was given to him to handle. We then went to the neighbor’s to observe his tied dog and then he observed the neighbor playing with his dog and bathing him. Finally he went close to the neighbors tied dog and started patting him which was a huge achievement for him. He is still afraid if he sees a dog without chains but he has overcome his fear so much that he can pat a chained dog. References Allpsych. (2013). Behavioral Theory Applications and Research. Behavior Modification. [Electronic Version]. Retrieved on 26 Feb. 2013 from http://allpsych.com/personalitysynopsis/behavior_modification.html The article aims at describing the application of the behavioral school of thought in psychology by measuring the change in behavior; in the forms of behavior modification and systematic desensitization. Behavior modification uses shaping to affect change in behavior and help in overcoming phobia and anxiety disorders. Systematic desensitization aims to replace the feared stimulus with a relaxed and calm one. Allpsych. (2013). Behavioral Theory Applications and Research. Learned Helplessness. [Electronic Version]. Retrieved on 26 Feb. 2013 from http://allpsych.com/personalitysynopsis/learned_helplessness.html The article explains the application of behaviorism in real life by employing the technique of learned helplessness. Learned helplessness is the ability of humans to choose to be helpless in certain situations that offer a degree of control over situations. The experiments done on learned helplessness in the shuttle box reveal convincing data. Learned helplessness has been employed successfully in the treatment of depression, domestic violence and abuse. Cherry, K. (2012). What is Behaviorism? [Electronic Version]. Retrieved on 26 Feb. 2013 from http://psychology.about.com/od/behavioralpsychology/f/behaviorism.htm What is behaviorism looks too explain the behaviorist school of thought. It explains the foundations of behaviorism as laid by J. B Watson. The core concepts of behaviorism are narrated. Behaviorism is an objective and measureable science and aims to give behavior a measureable tendency. Cherry explains the two forms of conditioning principles that are employed in behaviorism, the two forms being operant and classical conditioning. DeMar, G. (1989). Behaviorism. [Electronic Version]. Retrieved on 26 Feb. 2013 from http://www.forerunner.com/forerunner/X0497_DeMar_-_Behaviorism.html The essay by DeMar explains behaviorism and its origin. The essay explains what inspired Watson to lay the foundations of behaviorism. Watson was the first to concern psychology with behavior and not with mind or cognitive processes. The essay explains the work done by Skinner in the field of radical behaviorism. It also relates the application of psychology in other fields and what are the basic premises that make up the behavioral school of psychology. Graham, G. (2010). Behaviorism. [Electronic Version]. Retrieved on 26 Feb. 2013 from http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/behaviorism/ The descriptive essay by Graham explains the fundamental principles of behaviorism. The essay explaining the roots of behaviorism expands on the concepts of behaviorism. It explains the basic principles as employed by the school of thought. The article also explains methodological, Physiological and analytical behaviorism. The article specially focuses on the role of Skinner in physiological and radical behaviorism Hauser, L. (2005). Behaviorism. [Electronic Version]. Retrieved on 26 Feb. 2013 from http://www.iep.utm.edu/behavior/ Hauser in Behaviorism explains the behaviorist school of thought and the implications it has on the field of psychology and philosophy. The article discusses the premise; objectivity, naturalistic science, and disregard for introspection that constitute the school of thought. The article explains the main principles of radical behaviorism and the factor that cognitive processes are behavior but a distinct form of behavior, is basic in it. Hauser focuses on the significant contributions made by the psychologists and philosophers t the behaviorism school of thought. It also discusses the limitations of the concepts in the school of thought. Learning-theories. (2013). Behaviorism. [Electronic Version]. Retrieved on 26 Feb. 2013 from http://www.learning-theories.com/behaviorism.html Behaviorism is explained and the concepts that are followed by the school of thought. The article discusses the prominent psychologists like B. F. Skinner and the role that they played in the behaviorism school of thought. Skinner laid the foundations of Radical psychology. The short article discusses the role of operant and classical conditioning in behaviorism. PBS. (2013). Watson Launches Behaviorist School of Psychology. [Electronic Version]. Retrieved on 26 Feb. 2013 from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/databank/entries/dh13wa.html The short essay explains the roots and beginnings of the behavioral school of thought. It explains how Watson laid the foundations of behaviorism and that it widely became famous due to its systematic and objective approach. The essay explains Watsons experiment with Albert and how he conditioned the child to be afraid of a rat and the development of associations through it. The essay explains that behaviorism was inconsiderate towards the role of cognitive processes in behavior and Watson believed that the cognitive process had no role to play n behavior. Wozniak, R. B. (1997). Behaviorism: The Early Years. [Electronic Version]. Retrieved on 26 Feb. 2013 from http://www.brynmawr.edu/psychology/rwozniak/behaviorism.html#40 Wozniak explains the behaviorism in its early years and the development of concepts in the school of thought through the leading psychologists like Watson and B. F. Skinner. Wozniak explains how the school of thought bears semblance with the field of psychology and how both compliment and further each other as a field. The article elaborates the application of behaviorism in psychology and how psychology is also the study of behavior like general psychology. Both fields are naturalistic and the objectivity and systematic study of behavior in behaviorism furthers the research in Psychology. Read More