Behaviorism

John B. Watson B. F. Skinner Benjamin Bloom

BehaviorismDefinition: Behaviorism is primarily concerned with

observable and measurable aspects of human behavior

Behaviorists learning theories emphasize changes in behavior that result from stimulus-response associations made by the learner

Behavior is directed by stimuliBehaviorists believe that our behavior is

determined by forces in the environment that shape our behavior

John B. Watson 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 beggarman and thief, regardless of his talents, penchants, tendencies, abilities, vocations, and race of his ancestors" –John Watson, Behaviorism, 1930

John B. WatsonThe principal originator of

behavioristic psychologyFirst claimed that human

behavior consisted of specific stimuli that resulted in certain responses

1915 – Served as the President of the American Psychological Association (APA)

1925 – Published Behaviorism 1928 – Published

Psychological Care of Infant and Child

1957 – Received the APA’s award for contributions to psychology

The “Little Albert” Experiment

Watson and assistant Rosalie Rayner conditioned a small child to fear a white rat

Accomplished this by repeatedly pairing the white rat with a loud, frightening clanging noise

able to demonstrate that this fear could be generalized to other white, furry objects

The ethics of the experiment are often criticized today, especially because the child's fear was never deconditioned

B. F. Skinner 1904-19901968 - National Medal

of Science from President Lyndon B. Johnson

1971 - Gold Medal of the American Psychological Foundation

1972 - Human of the Year Award

1990 - Citation for Outstanding Lifetime Contribution to Psychology

B. F. SkinnerOperant conditioning: Method of learning that

occurs through rewards and punishments for behavior

“Shaping and maintaining behavior by making sure that reinforcing consequences follow”

Believed that internal thoughts and motivations could not be used to explain behavior

Classical Conditioning

Ivan Pavlov

Key Concepts in Operating ConditioningReinforcer: any event that strengthens or

increases the behavior it followsPositive Reinforcers: favorable events or

outcomes that are presented after the behaviorNegative Reinforcers: removal of an

unfavorable events or outcome after the display of a behavior

Key Concepts in Operating ConditioningPunishment: presentation of an adverse

event or outcome that causes a decrease in the behavior it followsPositive Punishment:

referred to as punishment by application involves the presentation of an unfavorable event or

outcome in order to weaken the response it followsNegative Punishment:

known as punishment by removal occurs when an favorable event or outcome is

removed after a behavior occurs

REINFORCEMENT

(Behavior Increases)

PUNISHMENT

(Behavior Decreases)

POSITIVE (Somethi

ng is added)

Positive ReinforcementSomething is added to increase desired behaviorEx: Smile and compliment student on good performance

Positive PunishmentSomething is added to decrease undesired behaviorEx: Give student detention for failing to follow the class rules

NEGATIVE

(Something is

removed)

Negative ReinforcementSomething is removed to increase desired behaviorEx: Give a free homework pass for turning in all assignments

Negative PunishmentSomething is removed to decrease undesired behaviorEx: Make student miss their time in recess for not following the class rules

Skinner Box

This illustration illustrates operant conditioning. The mouse pushes the lever and receives a food reward. Therefore, he will push the lever repeatedly in order to get the treat.

Benjamin Bloom 1913-1999

Joined the Department of Education at the University of Chicago in 1940

Attained a PhD in Education in 1942, during which time he specialized in examining

Develop the Learning Taxonomy model through the 1960's

Appointed Charles H Swift Distinguished Service Professor at Chicago in 1970

Benjamin Bloom TaxonomyCognitive domain: intellectual capability

Affective domain: feelings, emotions and behavior

Psychomotor domain: manual and physical skills

Cognitive LearningCognitive learning is

demonstrated by knowledge recall and the intellectual skills: comprehending information, organizing ideas, analyzing and synthesizing data, applying knowledge, choosing among alternatives in problem-solving, and evaluating ideas or actions.

Six levels within the cognitive domain:KnowledgeComprehensionApplication AnalysisSynthesis Evaluation

Affective LearningAffective learning is demonstrated by

behaviors indicating attitudes of :o Awarenesso Interesto Attentiono Concern and responsibilityo Ability to listen and respond in interactions

with otherso Ability to demonstrate those attitudinal

characteristics or values which are appropriate to the test situation and the field of study

Psychomotor learningDemonstrated by physical skills

o Coordinationo Manipulationo Graceo Strengtho Speed

Actions which demonstrate the fine motor skills such as use of precision instruments or tools, or actions which evidence gross motor skills such as the use of the body in dance or athletic performance

Reference“Bloom's taxonomy - learning domains”

http://www.businessballs.com/bloomstaxonomyoflearningdomains.htm#bloom's%20taxonomy%20overview. October 10, 2009

“B. F. Skinner Biography (1904-1990)” http://psychology.about.com/od/profilesofmajorthinkers/p/bio_skinner.htm. October 10, 2009

“John Watson Biography” http://psychology.about.com/od/profilesofmajorthinkers/p/watson.htm. October 10, 2009

“Introduction to Operant Conditioning” http://psychology.about.com/od/behavioralpsychology/a/introopcond.htm. October 10, 2009

“What Is Behaviorism?” http://psychology.about.com/od/behavioralpsychology/f/behaviorism.htm. October 10, 2009

Reference“Behaviorism” http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/index.php?

title=Behaviorism#Behaviorism_Advocates. October 15, 2009“Little Albert Experiment”

http://www.betterlucktomorrow.com/character_sites/steve/Little%20Albert.htm. October 10, 2009

“Benjamin Bloom's Taxonomy of Behavioral Objectives” http://hs.riverdale.k12.or.us/~dthompso/exhibition/blooms.htm#cognitive. October 10, 2009

“B.F. Skinner and behaviorism” http://www.essortment.com/all/skinnerbf_rcde.htm. October 15, 2009

“Hall of Fame - Ivan Pavlov” http://www.psyonline.nl/hof/en-pavlov.htm. October 15, 2009