Chapter 12: Behaviourism

Question 1

Vladimir M. Bechterev

Answer 1

Vladimir M. Bechterev was a prominent Russian neurologist and physiologist known for his work in the field of reflexology. He emphasized the study of reflexes and their role in understanding behavior and psychological processes. Bechterev’s work contributed to the development of reflexology, which focused on the study of conditioned reflexes and their impact on behavior.

Question 2

Mary Cover Jones

Answer 2

Mary Cover Jones was an influential American psychologist known for her contributions to behavior therapy and the treatment of phobias. She conducted significant research on the experimental conditioning of fear responses and is renowned for her work with “Little Peter,” which laid the foundation for systematic desensitization as a therapeutic technique for overcoming phobias.

Experimental neurosis

Question 3

William McDougall

Answer 3

William McDougall was a renowned British psychologist recognized for his contributions to the study of instinct theory and social psychology. He advocated for a psychology that emphasized the study of behavior as a science, focusing on the role of instincts and their influence on behavior. McDougall’s concept of purposive behavior highlighted the spontaneous, goal-directed nature of actions motivated by instinctual drives.

Explicit learned behavior, Explicit unlearned behavior, Hormic psychology, Implicit learned behavior, Implicit unlearned behavior, Sentiment

Question 4

Ivan Petrovitch Pavlov

Answer 4

Ivan Petrovitch Pavlov was a prominent Russian physiologist known for his groundbreaking research on classical conditioning. He conducted extensive studies on the digestive processes of dogs, which led to the discovery of the conditioned reflex. Pavlov’s work laid the foundation for the understanding of associative learning and the principles of classical conditioning, which became instrumental in the development of behaviorist theories.

Conditioned reflex, Conditioned response (CR), Conditioned stimulus (CS), Cortical mosaic, Disinhibition, Excitation, Extinction, Spontaneous recovery, Unconditioned reflex, Unconditioned response (UR), Unconditioned stimulus (US)

Question 5

Ivan M. Sechenov

Answer 5

Ivan M. Sechenov was a pioneering Russian physiologist often regarded as the father of Russian physiology. He is recognized for his work in the field of neuroscience, particularly for his contributions to the understanding of reflexes and the role of the central nervous system in controlling behavior. Sechenov’s emphasis on the physiological basis of behavior laid the groundwork for subsequent developments in the field of psychology.

First-signal system, Second-signal system

Question 6

John Broadus Watson

Answer 6

John Broadus Watson was a prominent American psychologist known as one of the founders of behaviorism. He emphasized the study of observable behavior and rejected the role of introspection in psychological research. Watson’s work on classical conditioning and his famous “Little Albert” experiment contributed significantly to the development of behaviorist principles and the understanding of the environmental determinants of behavior.

Behavior therapy, Methodological behaviorism, Law of recency , Observation, Radical behaviorism, Radical environmentalism, Reflexology, Verbal reports, Conditioned-reflex method

Question 7

Behaviourism

Answer 7

A school of psychology that emphasizes the study of observable behavior and the environmental factors that influence it, while disregarding the study of consciousness and mental processes.

Question 8

Behaviour therapy

Answer 8

A therapeutic approach that focuses on modifying or eliminating maladaptive behaviors by employing principles derived from the study of behavior, particularly in the context of conditioning and learning.
John B. Watson and Mary Cover Jones

Question 9

Conditioned reflex

Answer 9

A learned association between a specific stimulus and a specific response, developed through repeated pairings of an unconditioned stimulus and a conditioned stimulus
Ivan Petrovitch Pavlov

Question 10

Conditioned response (CR)

Answer 10

A learned response that is elicited by a conditioned stimulus after classical conditioning has taken place
Ivan Petrovitch Pavlov

Question 11

Conditioned stimulus (CS)

Answer 11

A neutral stimulus that, through repeated association with an unconditioned stimulus, acquires the ability to elicit a conditioned response
Ivan Petrovitch Pavlov

Question 12

Conditioned-reflex method

Answer 12

A method used to study learned behavior and the processes of classical conditioning, involving the pairing of stimuli to elicit specific responses

Question 13

Cortical mosaic

Answer 13

A term used to describe the brain’s organization into distinct functional units, suggesting that various regions of the cerebral cortex serve specific functions and contribute to the overall cognitive and behavioral processes

Question 14

Disinhibition

Answer 14

A psychological phenomenon characterized by the removal or reduction of inhibitions, resulting in the amplification or release of certain behaviors or impulses that were previously suppressed or controlled

Question 15

Excitation

Answer 15

The process of increasing the activity or responsiveness of a neural or behavioral response, often resulting from the influence of a specific stimulus or situation

Question 16

Experimental neurosis

Answer 16

A condition in which an organism exhibits disorganized or abnormal behavior as a result of exposure to conflicting or complex stimuli during an experiment
Mary Cover Jones

Question 17

Extinction

Answer 17

The process of increasing the activity or responsiveness of a neural or behavioral response, often resulting from the influence of a specific stimulus or situation

Question 18

Explicit learned behaviour

Answer 18

Observable behaviors that an individual acquires through conscious awareness, instruction, or deliberate practice
William McDougall

Question 19

Explicit unlearned behaviour

Answer 19

Observable behaviors that an individual exhibits without the need for prior experience or conscious learning
William McDougall

Question 20

First-signal system

Answer 20

A concept introduced by Ivan M. Sechenov, denoting the neural signaling system responsible for transmitting sensory information and initiating primary reflexes (Sechenov)

Question 21

Hormic psychology

Answer 21

A term introduced by William McDougall, representing a psychological approach emphasizing the study of behavior from the perspective of instinctual urges and motivational forces, suggesting that behavior is driven by innate impulses

Question 22

Inhibition

Answer 22

The process through which a conditioned response is suppressed or weakened, often resulting from the presence of conflicting or inhibitory stimuli

Question 23

Implicit learned behaviour

Answer 23

Behaviors that an individual acquires without conscious awareness or deliberate instruction, often through repeated exposure to environmental influences, leading to the development of automatic or subconscious responses
William McDougall

Question 24

Implicit unlearned behaviour

Answer 24

Automatic or innate behaviors that an individual exhibits without the need for prior experience or conscious learning, often rooted in instinctual or biologically determined responses
William McDougall

Question 25

Law of recency

Answer 25

A principle in psychology that emphasizes the tendency for the most recently presented stimuli or responses to have a stronger influence on behavior or memory.

Question 26

Methodological behaviourism

Answer 26

A form of behaviorism that emphasizes the importance of studying observable behavior while allowing for the consideration of internal mental events as long as they can be objectively observed or measured
John B. Watson

Question 27

Observation (Watson)

Answer 27

The process of gathering data or information through the direct observation of behavior or external stimuli, without relying on subjective introspection or mental processes

Question 28

Radical behaviourism

Answer 28

A form of behaviorism advocated by B.F. Skinner that rejects the idea of internal mental events, focusing solely on observable behavior and the environmental stimuli that influence it

Question 29

Radical environmentalism

Answer 29

A perspective associated with behaviorism, emphasizing the significant role of the external environment and external stimuli in shaping behavior, while disregarding the influence of internal mental events

Question 30

Reflexology

Answer 30

The study or analysis of reflexes and their role in the regulation of behavior, often focusing on the relationship between specific stimuli and automatic responses
John B. Watson

Question 31

Second-signal system

Answer 31

A term related to the signaling system introduced by Ivan M. Sechenov, representing the higher-level neural processes responsible for coordinating complex behaviors and responses

Question 32

Sentiment

Answer 32

A configuration of instinctual tendencies that influence human behavior, often involving emotional and motivational components, as proposed by William McDougall

Question 33

Spontaneous recovery

Answer 33

The reappearance of a previously extinguished conditioned response following a period of rest or inactivity, often occurring without further conditioning

Question 34

Tropism

Answer 34

A biological phenomenon referring to the growth or movement of an organism in response to external stimuli, such as light or gravity, leading to specific directional behavior
Jacques Loeb

Question 35

Unconditioned reflex

Answer 35

An automatic or innate response elicited by an unconditioned stimulus without prior conditioning, often involving basic physiological or survival-related reactions
Ivan Petrovitch Pavlov

Question 36

Unconditioned response (UR)

Answer 36

An automatic or innate response elicited by an unconditioned stimulus, occurring without prior conditioning and typically representing a natural or instinctual reaction
Ivan Petrovitch Pavlov

Question 37

Unconditioned stimulus (US)

Answer 37

A stimulus that naturally triggers an unconditioned response without the need for prior conditioning or learning, often associated with innate biological or environmental cues
Ivan Petrovitch Pavlov

Question 38

Verbal reports

Answer 38

Statements or accounts provided by individuals regarding their own subjective experiences, thoughts, or perceptions, often used in psychology to gather data about mental processes
John B. Watson