Chapter 10: Behaviorism Part 2 Flashcards
What was the Little Albert experiment?
Exposed to a white rat, Albert initially showed no fear. Watson then struck a steel bar every time Albert touched the rat, noise scared Albert and he eventually associated that fear with the rat. Fear was generalized to other fuzzy objects such as a dog, fur coat, or santa claus mask.
What were Watson’s conclusions from the Little Albert experiment?
Adult fears, anxieties, and phobias are conditioned emotional responses that were established at an early age and stay with us throughout our lives. Conditioning of Little Albert led Watson to reject the notion of the unconscious as it could not be objectively observed.
Who did Watson study under?
Initially under John Dewey with philosophy, then moved on to functional psychology with Angell and then biology and physiology with Loeb.
Why was Watson forced to resign from John Hopkins university?
Due to having affairs and divorced. Then worked in advertising and promoted behaviorism until his retirement.
How did Watson put his research over to advertising?
Employed classical conditioning (celebrity association)
How did Watson view psychology?
Should not study consciousness in any way. Research with people conducted similarly with animals. Introspection no longer used, functionalism’s mind should be abandoned.
What did Watson’s 1914 book, Behavior: An introduction to Comparative Psychology, introduce?
Described the advantages of animal research. Excited graduate students, was rejected by established psychologists.
How did Watson promote behaviorism?
He wrote about it in popular magazines in a clear manner that his audience could understand. Books made him well known, couldn’t do lectures because he was dismissed for sexual misconduct.
How did Watson view childrearing?
Advocated for a permissive system of childrearing, use behaviorism to raise them and treat them like mini-adults.
How did Watsons childrearing practices affect his own children?
Both sons and daughter had depression, one son committed suicide. Grandchildren also suffered.
What did Watson think of women?
Argued against women’s causes such as the right to vote (women who wanted to vote were sexually disatisfied). Women lose their sexual appeal at 30, and over-the-hill at 40. Men retain their vigor and attractiveness.
What were Watson’s 4 methods of investigation?
1) Observation with and without use of instruments
2) Conversion of test results to objective data
3) Verbal report
4) Conditioned reflex method
What are the ideas behind observation with and without the use of instruments?
The only data that mattered was the data that could be observed directly or indirectly. No consideration of mental aspects such as consciousness or introspection
What is the idea behind conversion of test results to objective data?
Test results must be treated as samples of behavior rather than mental qualities. (Ex: IQ test measures subjects responses to the stimulus of test taking, not intelligence itself)
What is the idea behind a verbal report?
Watson argued that speech responses are an objective type of behavior (introspection lite). Can be used to report differences in objective stimuli, but not on feelings or thoughts.
What is the idea behind the conditioned reflex method?
Reduction of ALL behavior to it’s simplest elements: the stimulus-response (stimulus substation). Allowed for investigation of complex behaviors in the lab
Who is more important in behaviorism? The experimenter or the subject?
Experimenter- subjects no longer provide observations of conscious experience, they merely respond to the stimuli introduced by the experimenter. Reinforced view of people as machines.
What is behavior?
A focus on implicit or explicit responses
