Behaviorism: the main provisions of the theory, representatives and subject of study

2024 Author: Miguel Ramacey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 06:11

Psychology as a science is quite broad in terms of the scope of views on human activity and the mechanisms associated with it. One of the key concepts is behaviorism. He studies the behavioral responses not only of people, but also of animals. In this article, we will understand the essence of behaviorism and the main provisions, as well as get acquainted with the representatives of this direction.

The essence of the concept

Unofficially behaviorism originated in the early 19th century. Then the American scientist Edward Thorndike discovered the law of effect. It is a process in which an individual's behavior is enhanced through certain events or reactions. Its development was continued already in the 20th century and formulated into a separate concept by John Watson. This was a truly revolutionary breakthrough and determined the shape of American psychology for decades to come.

Behaviorism (from the English "behavior" - behavior)turned scientific ideas about the psyche upside down. The subject of study was not consciousness, but the behavior of the individual as a response to external stimuli (stimuli). At the same time, subjective experiences were not denied, but were in a dependent position on verbal or emotional influences on a person.

Under the behavior, Watson understood the actions and words that a person does and utters throughout his life. This is a set of reactions due to which adaptation to new conditions occurs. The followers of the concept have found that this process includes not only mental, but also physiological changes (for example, muscle contraction, acceleration of gland secretion).

Basics

J. Watson formulated the main provisions of behaviorism, which give an idea of the direction and methods of its adherents:

• The subject of psychology is the behavior of living beings. It is associated with mental and physiological aspects and can be investigated through observation.
• The main task of behaviorism is the correct prediction of the individual's action by the nature of the external stimulus. Solving this problem helps shape and control human behavior.
• All reactions are divided into innate (unconditioned reflexes) and acquired (conditioned reflexes).
• Multiple repetition leads to automation and memorization of actions. Therefore, it can be argued that human behavior is the result of training, the development of a conditioned reflex (skills).
• Thinking andspeech is also a skill.
• Memory is the process of storing acquired reflexes.
• Psychic reactions develop throughout life and depend on environmental conditions, society.
• Emotions are the body's response to pleasant and unpleasant stimuli.
• There is no periodization of age development and general patterns of the formation of the psyche.

Watson's views were largely influenced by the research of Ivan Petrovich Pavlov. The Russian academician discovered that conditioned and unconditioned reflexes in animals form a certain reactive behavior. He deduced several general models. And Watson, in turn, conducted a series of experiments with babies and identified three instinctive reactions: anger, fear and love. However, the scientist failed to uncover the nature of complex behaviors.

Representatives

Watson was not alone in his views. His associate William Hunter in 1914 created a scheme for studying the behavior of animals. Subsequently, she received the definition of "delayed". The experiment involved a monkey who was shown a banana in one of two boxes. Then they closed it all with a screen, and after a while they opened it again. And the monkey successfully found a delicacy, already knowing its location. This was a demonstration of a delayed response to a stimulus.

Another behaviorist, Carl Lashley, was trying to figure out what parts of an animal's brain a learned skill depends on. To do this, he trained a mouse, and then surgically removed a certain area of \u200b\u200bthe brain. As a result, the psychologist proved that all parts are equal and canreplace a friend.

Current behaviorism

Some of the main provisions of Watson's behaviorism, which received the definition of classical (methodological), were refuted by cognitive psychology at the end of the 20th century. In addition, currents were formulated, the techniques of which are used in modern psychotherapy. Among these, it is worth highlighting radical, psychological and social behaviorism.

The representative of the radical concept is Burres Skinner, an American scientist and inventor. He suggested that the individual's behavior directly depends on internal events (thoughts and feelings). It was an experimental analysis that had much in common with philosophical positions (for example, with American pragmatism). While J. Watson, on the contrary, denied introspection.

The founder of psychological behaviorism was Arthur Staats. He argued that human behavior is subject to practical control. To do this, he proposed using timeouts and a token reward system. Until now, these techniques are used in child development and pathopsychology programs.

The theory of behaviorism also has a social aspect. Its supporters believe that the definition of incentives for external influence depends on the social experience of the individual.

Cognitive behaviorism

Cognitive behaviorism stands apart. The main provisions were formulated in the 30s of the last century by Edward Tolman. According to them, atlearning, mental processes are not limited to a strict "stimulus-response" connection. The American psychologist expanded the chain to include intermediate factors - cognitive representations. They are able to influence human behavior: to enhance or slow down the acquisition of habits. Cognitive activity is identified with mental images, possible expectations, and other variables.

Tolman experimented with animals. For example, he provided them with the opportunity to find food in the maze in various ways. The goal in this case prevailed over the mode of behavior, so Tolman called his concept "target behaviorism".

Pros and cons

Like any scientific field, classical behaviorism has strengths and weaknesses.

The study of human behavior was a breakthrough for the early 20th century. Prior to this, the attention of scientists was focused only on consciousness in isolation from objective reality. However, the new method was still incomplete, one-sided.

The followers of the concept considered the behavior of living beings only in external manifestations, without taking into account physiological and mental processes.

Behaviorists believed that human behavior can be controlled, thereby reducing it to the manifestation of the simplest reactions. And the active essence of the individual was not taken into account.

Laboratory methods formed the basis of behavioral research, but there was no clear difference between human and animal behavior.

Motivation and mental attitude areindispensable components in the acquisition of new skills. And the behaviorists mistakenly denied them.

Conclusion

Despite criticism from adherents of other directions, behaviorism is still actively used in psychology. Its main provisions are also suitable for building the pedagogical process. However, it is important to note some limitations of the approach. As a rule, they are connected with ethical problems (public relations). The inability to reduce the complex human psyche only to the main provisions of behaviorism encourages scientists to combine various methods.