1.3 The Search for Objective Measurement: Behaviourism Takes Center Stage Flashcards
What was the main similarity between Structuralism, Functionalism, and Psychoanalysis?
Each tried to understand the inner workings of the mind by examining conscious perceptions, thoughts, memories, and feelings or by trying to elicit previously unconscious material, all of which were reported by participants in experiments or patients in a clinical setting
Define “Behaviorism”
An approach that advocates that psychologists restrict themselves to the scientific study of objectively observable behaviour
Who proposed that psychologists focus entirely on the study of behaviour—what people do, rather than what people experience, and why?
John B. Watson
Because behaviour can be observed by anyone and it can be measured objectively
He also believed it would put a stop to the endless philosophical debates among psychologists and that it would foster practical applications in such areas as business, medicine, law, and education.
Who was the first woman to gain a PhD in Psychology?
Margaret F. Washburn
She was a student of Edward Edward Titchener at Cornell, and wrote the book “The Animal Mind”
What was Ivan Pavlov famous for?
He is notable for his research on the physiology of digestion.
He developed “stimulus-reponse” (S-R), which was later used by Watson
What did Pavlov study about dogs?
He discovered that dog’s salivate at the sight of their feeder, even without food in sight.
He later triggered dogs to salivate at the sound of a bell, which preceded feeding time for the dogs. The bell and the sight of the feeder would be known as the “stimulus”, with the salivation being the “response”
How did Watson apply Pavlov’s techniques into his research?
He taught an infant known as “Little Albert” to have a strong fear of a harmless white rat (and other white furry animals and toys) that he had previously not feared.
This study was highly controversial
Define “response”
An action or physiological change elicited by a stimulus
Who is the name most commonly/famously associated with Behaviourism?
John B. Watson
Who came up with the “conditioning chamber”?
B.F. Skinner
Define “Reinforcement”
The consequences of a behaviour determine whether it will be more or less likely to occur again
How did Skinner apply his ideas/beliefs of reinforcement?
To child education/ teaching environments (teaching machines), and an attempt to society as a whole (which was met with much criticism)
