BehavioralismBehavioralism

Psychological perspective that Psychological perspective that emphasizes the role of emphasizes the role of learninglearning and and experienceexperience in determining behavior. in determining behavior.

A strict behavioralist believes that A strict behavioralist believes that babies are babies are tabula rasa (clean slate) tabula rasa (clean slate) and the study of psychology should and the study of psychology should

focus purely on observable behaviors focus purely on observable behaviors and not unobservable thoughts.and not unobservable thoughts.

Two types of behavioral learningTwo types of behavioral learning

Classical conditioning – An Classical conditioning – An INVOLUNTARY behavior is determined by INVOLUNTARY behavior is determined by what PRECEDES it what PRECEDES it (Ivan Pavlov)(Ivan Pavlov)

Operant conditioning – rewards and Operant conditioning – rewards and punishment; A VOLUNTARY behavior is punishment; A VOLUNTARY behavior is determined by the anticipation of determined by the anticipation of something that FOLLOWS it. something that FOLLOWS it. (B.F. Skinner)(B.F. Skinner)

Which is which?Which is which?

1.1. A child is attacked by a A child is attacked by a dog. The child now dog. The child now experiences anxiety experiences anxiety around all dogs. around all dogs.

2.2. You feel hungry in 3rd You feel hungry in 3rd period most days period most days because it is lunch time. because it is lunch time. When you enter your 3rd When you enter your 3rd period class on an early period class on an early release day at (9:30 am), release day at (9:30 am), you feel hungry. you feel hungry.

3.3. You do your homework You do your homework every night to get good every night to get good grades and avoid being grades and avoid being yelled at by mom.yelled at by mom.

Classical – involuntary, stimulus precedes behavior

Operant – voluntary, stimulus follows behavior

Ivan Pavlov’s Experiment with Ivan Pavlov’s Experiment with Classical ConditioningClassical Conditioning

Pavlov paired a Pavlov paired a neutral stimulus (a neutral stimulus (a bell) with a meat bell) with a meat powder (which powder (which made the dog made the dog salivate). salivate). Eventually, dog Eventually, dog salivates to bell salivates to bell alonealone

Ivan Pavlov: Conditioned Ivan Pavlov: Conditioned ResponseResponse

Identifying PartsIdentifying Parts

Unconditioned Stimulus (US)Unconditioned Stimulus (US)Meat powder Meat powder (Pavlov)(Pavlov)

Unconditioned Response (UR) Unconditioned Response (UR) (Pavlov)(Pavlov)

SalivationSalivationConditioned Stimulus (CS) Conditioned Stimulus (CS) (Pavlov)(Pavlov)

Bell Bell (Pavlov)(Pavlov)

Conditioned Response (CR)Conditioned Response (CR)Salivation Salivation (Pavlov)(Pavlov)

* Hint: replace “conditioned” with “learned” to make * Hint: replace “conditioned” with “learned” to make it more intuitive.it more intuitive.

TASTE AVERSION: You go to a fancy restaurant and TASTE AVERSION: You go to a fancy restaurant and decide to try an appetizer you’ve never tried before – decide to try an appetizer you’ve never tried before – escargot. After dinner, you go to a concert and get escargot. After dinner, you go to a concert and get violently ill (from a stomach virus that’s been going violently ill (from a stomach virus that’s been going

around). From then on, you can’t even look at snails around). From then on, you can’t even look at snails without feeling sick.without feeling sick.

UCS? UCS? Stomach virusStomach virus

UCR? UCR? Feeling sickFeeling sick

CS?CS? Sight of snailsSight of snails

CR? CR? Feeling sickFeeling sick

A friend has learned to associate the sound of a dentist’s A friend has learned to associate the sound of a dentist’s drill to a fearful reaction because of a painful experience drill to a fearful reaction because of a painful experience

she had getting a root canal. In this example, what is the:she had getting a root canal. In this example, what is the:

– UCS? UCS? – UCR? UCR? – CS? CS? – CR? CR?

A BMW commercial has lots of pretty people in it. People A BMW commercial has lots of pretty people in it. People who watch the commercial find the people pleasing who watch the commercial find the people pleasing

to look at. With repeated viewing, they begin to to look at. With repeated viewing, they begin to associate the car with the pleasant feeling.associate the car with the pleasant feeling.

UCS?UCS?

UCR? UCR?

CS? CS?

CR? CR?

Little AlbertLittle Albert

John Watson – famous John Watson – famous behavioralistbehavioralistLittle Albert – 11 month old Little Albert – 11 month old orphanorphanShowed him a white rat. No Showed him a white rat. No fear.fear.Made a loud noise. Albert Made a loud noise. Albert cried.cried.Showed him a white rat Showed him a white rat andand made a loud noise. Albert made a loud noise. Albert cried. Repeated several times.cried. Repeated several times.Eventually Albert cried at white Eventually Albert cried at white rat alone.rat alone.

Identify the partsIdentify the partsUnconditioned Stimulus (UCS)

Loud noise

Unconditioned Response (UCR)

Fear/crying

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

White rat

Conditioned Response (CR)

Fear/crying

Watson on childcareWatson on childcare

“ “ Give me a dozen healthy infants, well-Give me a dozen healthy infants, well-formed, and my own specified world to formed, and my own specified world to bring them up and I’ll guarantee to take bring them up and I’ll guarantee to take any one at random and train him to any one at random and train him to become any type of specialist I might become any type of specialist I might select—doctor, lawyer, merchant-chief, select—doctor, lawyer, merchant-chief, and yes, ever beggarman and thief, and yes, ever beggarman and thief, regardless of his talents, penchants, regardless of his talents, penchants, tendencies, abilities, vocations, and race tendencies, abilities, vocations, and race of his ancestors.” (1930)of his ancestors.” (1930)

Definitions of Observed BehaviorsDefinitions of Observed Behaviors

Extinction – diminished response to the Extinction – diminished response to the conditioned stimulus when it is no longer conditioned stimulus when it is no longer coupled with UCS. (stop giving meat powder coupled with UCS. (stop giving meat powder with bell and dog will stop salivating to bell)with bell and dog will stop salivating to bell)Spontaneous recovery – reappearance of an Spontaneous recovery – reappearance of an extinguished CR after a rest. extinguished CR after a rest. Generalization – the tendency to respond to any Generalization – the tendency to respond to any stimuli similar to the CS (a dog may salivate stimuli similar to the CS (a dog may salivate when he hears ANY type of ringing)when he hears ANY type of ringing)Discrimination – the ability to distinguish Discrimination – the ability to distinguish between the CS and similar stimuli (Dog only between the CS and similar stimuli (Dog only salivates to specific tone)salivates to specific tone)

Application to Little AlbertApplication to Little Albert

If Little Albert generalized, what would we expect to happen?If Little Albert generalized, what would we expect to happen? – He might cry at the sight of similar objects (he did – rabbit, dog, sealskin He might cry at the sight of similar objects (he did – rabbit, dog, sealskin

coat, some rumors – Santa’s beard)coat, some rumors – Santa’s beard)How could we teach Little Albert to discriminate?How could we teach Little Albert to discriminate? – Continually expose him to stimuli similar to the rat, but only make the Continually expose him to stimuli similar to the rat, but only make the

loud noise when exposing him to the ratloud noise when exposing him to the ratHow could Little Albert’s conditioning be extinguished?How could Little Albert’s conditioning be extinguished? – Continually expose him to a white rat without making the loud noise Continually expose him to a white rat without making the loud noise

(unfortunately, this was never done because Little Albert was adopted (unfortunately, this was never done because Little Albert was adopted soon after the original experiments (he would be 83 now if he is still soon after the original experiments (he would be 83 now if he is still alive – probably scared of rats!)alive – probably scared of rats!)

If Little Albert is still alive, his fear of white rats is likely to have If Little Albert is still alive, his fear of white rats is likely to have been extinguished (no loud noise when he sees a rat). been extinguished (no loud noise when he sees a rat). However, occasionally, when he sees a rat, he may find that his However, occasionally, when he sees a rat, he may find that his heart races for a second or two. What is this called? heart races for a second or two. What is this called? – Spontaneous recoverySpontaneous recovery