Behavioral Approach Flashcards
What does the Behavioral Approach state about personality?
Personality reflects a person’s learning history; Skinner even rejected the concept of “personality” altogether
What is the focus of research in the Behavioral Approach?
Observable variables, excluding constructs like thoughts and emotions
What does the Behavioral Approach emphasize?
The environment’s impact on behavior rather than internal processess
What are present-day applications of the Behavioral Approach?
Education (token reinforcement systems) and behavioral therapy (for anxiety)
Who is considered the Father of Behaviorism?
John B. Watson
What was John B. Watson’s perspective on psychology?
Psychology must focus on the objective study of overt behavior and reject the study of mental states
What was Watson’s claim about conditioning and child development?
He believed he could mold children into any type of adult through conditioning regardless of their inherited traits
Who developed Radical Behaviorism?
B.F. Skinner
What key boo did B.F. Skinner write in 1938?
The Behavior of Organisms, which outlines his basic concepts of behaviorism
What is Science and Human Behavior (1953) by Skinner?
A foundational text in Radical Behaviorism
What is Operant Conditioning?
A learning process where behavior is influenced by consequences
What are the four main components of operant conditioning?
Positive Reinforcement: Adding a reward to increase behavior
Negative Reinforcement: Removing something unpleasant to increase behavior
Punishment: Applying a consequence to decrease behavior
Extinction: Removing reinforcement to reduce behavior
What are Schedules of Reinforcement?
Patterns in Delivering reinforcement that affect behavior differently, such as fixed or variable intervals and ratios
What real-world examples illustrates a schedule of reinforcement?
Slot machines, which use a variable ratio schedule, providing reinforcers after an unpredictable number of responses
How did Watson’s ideas appeal to American audiences?
His emphasis on equal opportunity resonated with Americans ideals, suggesting environmental conditioning could shape anyone
