Menu I. Behaviorism Basics

II. Different Emphases

III. Key Behaviorist Figures

a. Pavlov and Watson

b. BF Skinner

I. Behaviorism in the Classroom

II. Philosophy of Behaviorism

a. Teachers

b. Students

Behaviorism Basics

An approach to Psychology.

Proposition: behavior can be researched scientifically without recourse to inner mental states.

Denies independent significance for mind.

Free will is illusory = behavior is determined by environment.

Association vs. Reinforcement

Different Emphases Classical: no mental life nor internal states.

Radical: mental life, not mechanistic, no internal states.

Theological: accepts internal states & parsimony.

Methodological:1. Third-person behavior

2. Psychological data must be inter-subjectively verifiable.

3. Group data

4. Not dynamic

Key Behaviorist Figures

Ivan Pavlov1. Investigated Classical Conditioning 2. Neutral, Unconditional and Conditional Stimuli3. “Pavlov and his dogs”

John B. Watson1. Rejection of introspective methods.2. “Little Albert and the White Rat” experiment3. Events precede and follow behavior

Ivan Pavlov(1849-1936)

John B. Watson(1878-1958)

Little Albert Video

B.F. Skinner

1. Born on March 20, 1904 and died August 18, 1990.

2. Behaviorist, author, inventor, social philosopher and poet.

3. Father of Radical Behaviorism

4. Behavior is a function of environmental histories of reinforcing consequences.

5. Consequences influence behavior.

6. Positive vs. Negative Reinforcement

Behaviorism in the Classroom

Experiment #1:

1.Classical Conditioning

2. Over the course of two weeks, we will expose class mouse to the colors green and blue.

3. When he touches green, he will receive cheese.

4. When he touches red, he will receive nothing.

5. Through positive reinforcement, mouse will touch green automatically.

Experiment #2

1.Classical Conditioning

2.Two weeks time

3. Each time we feed mouse we must ring the bell.

4. Eventually, mouse will associate bell with cheese.

5. When we ring bell, mouse will automatically travel to designated feeding area.

Philosophy + Behaviorism

Teachers and Behaviorism:

1. Encourage positive reinforcement with students.

2. Understand that there are consequences for every action.

3. Collecting data may lead to breakthroughs.

4. Understanding students on a mental level.

Students and Behaviorism:

1. Students can learn hands-on through experiments.

2. Students may understand the concept of consequence.

3. Students have opportunities to interact.

4. Students may learn different branches of psychology.