The Rise of Behaviorism and Animal Research

Question 1

What led to the rise of behaviorism in the early 20th century?

Answer 1

The scientific expansion of psychology in the USA, the desire to dissociate from non-scientific practices like phrenology and spiritualism, and the influence of functionalism led to the growth of behaviorism.

Question 2

How did animal behavior research influence the rise of behaviorism?

Answer 2

The work of researchers like Edward Thorndike and Ivan Pavlov shifted focus from anecdotal evidence to controlled experiments, emphasizing observable behavior.

Question 3

What was Thorndike’s contribution to behaviorism?

Answer 3

Thorndike introduced the “Law of Effect” through his puzzle box experiments, showing that responses followed by satisfying consequences are more likely to be repeated.

Question 4

What is classical conditioning, and who is associated with it?

Answer 4

Classical conditioning is a form of learning where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with an unconditioned stimulus to produce a conditioned response. Ivan Pavlov is the key figure behind this concept.