Neo and socio behaviorism Flashcards
what are the 3 stages of behaviorism
1913-1930: Watsonian behaviorism
1930-1960: Neobehaviorism
1960-present: Sociobehaviorism (neo-neobehaviorism) and the return to cognitive processes
what is positivism
emphasizes objective data and voids/minimizes theoretical speculation.
Logical positivism
divides science into 2 parts
empiricism and rationalism together
the empirical ( empirical observation) and the theoretical (rationalism - theoretical terms used to explain that which was observed)
what was the problem with theoretical terms?
TOO abstract
Bridgman:
The Logic of Modern Physics
precise definition of all physical concepts;
concepts lacking physical referents must be discarded
contemporary use of operational definitions
what is a concept?
sam as the procedures by which it is determined
Operationism
abstract theoretical concepts are relevant but must be made objective, observable/measurable
( “hunger”)
operational definition
a physical concept can be defined in precise terms relating to the set of operations or procedures determined
what do operational definitions connect?
theoretical terms to observable phenomena
Theory
a set of interrelated propositions, a framework for predicting and explaining empirical events.
how is theory evaluated?
accuracy of its predictions
Neobehaviorism
- Psychology should study learning
- Most behavior can be accounted for by the laws of conditioning
- psychology must adopt the principle of operationism
why are critters easier to use?
easier to control variables
what differs in critters
perceptual and learning processes
who was Edward Chace Toleman?
purposive behaviorism
in animals and men
mentalistic approach
what did Toleman have no interest in?
had no interest in any presumed internal experiences unless accessible to objective observation
Purposiveness
defined in objective behavioral terms
behavior is directed toward some goal
Purpose is seen in the behavior itself
Later what did Toleman study?
purpose concept used to explain behavior, seen as a determinant of behavior and “inferred” by observers.
Purpose is seen as what?
being with the organism
what did Toleman come to believe?
cognitive processes were influential in determining behavior.
intervening variables
Variables that intervened between environmental events and behavior
how did Toleman view purpose and condition?
theoretical constructs used to predict and explain behavior
what does Toleman bring to psychology
Abstract Scientific theory
what did Toleman go beyond in?
the causes of behavior
To understand the behavior one has to know what?
environmental events and the internal, intervening events
what were Tolemans most important intervening variables?
Cognitive, mental in nature
Independent Variables
Environmental Events
Intervening Variables
theoretical constructs
Dependent Variables
Behavior
what is an example of an intervening variable
thirst (creates stimulus condition)
measures behavior that leads to water
what does a rate form in maze learning?
“weak hypothesis”
“Sign Gestalt”
a learned relationship between cues and critter’s expectations about what would happen if it chose one path over another.
what happens when the rat learns expectancy’s
cognitive map
