The Behaviorisms

Theories of Epistemology and

Behavioral Adaptation
Defining Issues of
Behaviorism
 Epistemology – Positivism/Logical Positivism
 Behavioral Adaptation - Learning Theory &
Environmentalism
Ivan M. Sechenov (1829-1905)
 Russian Objective Psychology
 Positivism
 Scientific Statements should be limited to tangible
variables.
 Epiphenomenalism
 Thoughts do not influence behavior
Russian Objective Psychology
(Sechenov)
 Psychology = Physiology (materialism)
 Reflexes of the Brain (1863)
 Experience shapes behavior
 Associationism (S-R psychology)
 Inhibition and excitation of neuron clusters
 Inhibition explains apparent voluntary control
Ivan P. Pavlov (1849-1936)
 Nobel prize wining physiologist
 Interest shifted to "Psychic Reflex"
 Accepted Sechenov's system
 All behavior explained in terms of reflexive
neural excitation and inhibition.
 US - UR = Innate Reflexive Response
 CS - CR = Learned Response
 Extinction = Learned Inhibition
Cortical Mosaic
 Pattern of ever changes connections
between neurons
 Inhibitory and excitatory systems that change
in response to environmental experience.
 Accounts for all stimulus-response
Associations, including language and
conceptual thought (first and secondary
signal systems)
Watson & the Mind-Body
Problem
 Physical (materialistic) monism
 Thought = private speech & verbal behavior
 learned behavior (conditioned)
 epiphenomenon
 The locus of control is in the environment.
 Free will is a maladaptive illusion
Psychology as the
Behaviorist Views It (1913)

 AKA Behaviorist Manifesto (Radical Behaviorism)

 Accepts positivism
 Objective events are the only reliable source knowledge.
 Introspection has no scientific value.
 Consciousness can not be studied scientifically.
 Psychology is a natural and experimental science
 The subject matter of psychology is behavior and its
environmental determinants (learning).
 Assumes human-animal continuity
 Goal = Prediction and control of the behavior of organisms.
Skinner’s Positivism
 Rejects Theoretical & Deductive Science (Newton).
 Rationalism
 General Principles (Theories & Intervening Variables)
 Mathematics (Statistics, Nomothetic Approach)
 Advocates Inductive and descriptive science
(Bacon, Mach)
 Empiricism
 Limited generalization
 Idiographic Approach: Single-subject research
Skinner’s View of
Reinforcement
 Reinforcement is any consequent event observed to
increase the subsequent rate of behavior.
 Reinforcement is identified though functional
analysis.
 No reference to internal states (satisfaction, drive
reduction, expectancies)
 Limited generalization to other circumstances or
individuals.
Functional Analysis
 Descriptive analysis of systematic behavior-
environment relationships (correlations).
 Emphasis on prediction and control in specific
circumstances.
 Antecedent Stimuli
 Behavior
 Consequences
Neobehaviorism
 AKA Methodological Behaviorism
 Similarities with Traditional Behaviorism
 Learning is the subject matter of psychology
 Human-animal continuity
Neo-Behaviorism
 Examples
 Drive Theory (Hull)
 Cognitive Behaviorism (Tolman)
 Social Learning Theory/Social Cognitive Theory
(Bandura)
Neo-Behaviorism
 Contrasts with Traditional Behaviorism
 Logical Positivism
 S-O-R Psychology
 Accepts Intervening Variables
 Rejects Epiphenomenalism
Logical Positivism
 Unseen forces are real and must be studied
 gravity, magnetism, thoughts, motivations …
 Such forces can be studied using empirical
observation and rationalism
 Hypothetical–deductive reasoning (theory
development and evaluation)
Operationism
 Scientific variables seen must be defined in
the terms of how they are measured.
 Operational definitions and theoretical
constructs that successfully aid in prediction
and control are valid.
The Purposive/Cognitive
Behaviorism of Edward Tolman
(1886-1959)

 Postulated and studied intervening

(internal) variables in accordance with
logical positivism and operationism.
 Independent Variables = Environment
 Intervening Variables = Cognitive Maps…
 Dependent Variables = Behavior
Cognitive Maps
 Knowledge about the structure and
contingencies in an environment
 Awareness of the possibilities an
environment affords.
 Developed through hypotheses, vicarious trial and
error, and confirmation from the environment
 Composed of expectancies and beliefs.
Latent Learning
 Learning results from observation alone.
 Reinforcement is unnecessary.
 Reinforcement only motivates performance.
 Learned behaviors may or may not be
performed.