210-10 History of Psychology

Welcome to Seminar for Unit 7With Professor Kimberly Maring

Today• First, congratulations are in order!• This week’s seminar continues on our discussion

about behaviorism in the modern world. • We will focus on recent theorists and their

contributions to the field.

3 Stages of Behaviorism

• There are three stages in the progression of the behaviorist school of thought:– Watson is foundational for the beginning of

behaviorism.

1.Watson’s Behaviorism (1915-1930)

• There are three stages in the progression of the behaviorist school of thought:– Watson is foundational for the beginning of

behaviorism.

1.Watson’s Behaviorism (1915-1930)2.Neobehaviorism (1930-1960)

– Tolman, Hull, Skinner

• There are three stages in the progression of the behaviorist school of thought:

1.Watson’s Behaviorism (1915-1930)2.Neobehaviorism (1930-1960)

– Tolman, Hull, Skinner

3.Neo-neobehaviorism/sociobehaviorism (1960-1990)– Bandura, Rotter

Tolman (1886-1959)

• Purposive Behaviorism: Tolman’s system combining the objective study of behavior with the consideration of purposiveness or goal orientation in behavior.

• What is an intervening variable?

Purposive Behaviorism (Tolman)

• Behavior is a function of 5 variables:– Environmental stimuli– Physiological drives– Heredity– Previous training– Age

• Intervening Variables: Unobserved and inferred factors within the organism that are the actual determinants of behavior.

8

Operant Conditioning

Skinner developed the Operant chamber, or the Skinner box, to study operant conditioning.

Baby in a Box

Air crib, also called Skinner’s Baby in a BoxRaised his second daughter in one88F, 50% humidityCanvas mattressAir filter systemPicture window

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Types of Reinforcers

Reinforcement: Any event that strengthens the behavior it follows.

Schedules of Reinforcement

• Continuous reinforcement refers to reinforcement being administered to each instance of a response

• Intermittent reinforcement lies between continuous reinforcement and extinction

Example of Continuous Reinforcement

• Each instance of a smile is reinforced

Example of Fixed Ratio Reinforcement

• Every fourth instance of a smile is reinforced

Example of Variable Ratio Reinforcement

• Random instances of the behavior are reinforced

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Schedules of Reinforcement

Unpredictable (or variable) schedule produces more consistent responding than a fixed schedule.

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Punishment

An aversive event that decreases the behavior it follows.

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Punishment

Conveys no information to the organism; what not to do, rather than what to do.

Although there may be some justification for occasional punishment (Larzelaere & Baumrind, 2002), it usually leads to negative effects.

QUESTION

• What types of behaviors are acquired as a result of observational learning? How is modeling used to change behavior?

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Bandura's Experiments: Social Learning Theory

Bandura's Bobo doll study (1961) indicated that

individuals (children) learn through imitating others who receive rewards and

punishments.

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Social Learning Theory

Bandura’s studies show that antisocial models

(family, neighborhood or TV) may have antisocial

effects.

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Television and Observational Learning

Gentile et al., (2004) shows that children in

elementary school who are exposed to violent television, videos, and video games express increased aggression.

What do you think?

Self-Efficacy (Bandura)

• Self-Efficacy: One’s sense of self-esteem and competence in dealing with life’s problems.– Do what degree to you feel you have some effect

over what happens in your life?

• Rotter’s Locus of ControlExternal Locus of ControlIndividual believes that his/her behavior is guided by fate, luck, or other external circumstances

Internal Locus of ControlIndividual believes that his/her behavior is guided by his/her personal decisions and efforts.