BEHAVIORISM

Give me a dozen healthy infants, well-formed, and my own specified world to bring them up in and I'll guarantee to take any one at random and train him to become any type of specialist I might select -- doctor, lawyer, artist, merchant-chief and, yes, even beggar-man and thief, regardless of his talents, penchants, tendencies, abilities, vocations, and race of his ancestors. --John Watson, Behaviorism, 1930

Behaviorism

Behaviorism received its formal introduction by John Broadus Watson in 1913 who concluded that behavior is simply a physiological response to stimuli from the environment. Watson's research proved that the old methods of measuring behavior (e.g. introspection) were extremely outdated and he wanted to prove that there are observable ways that behavior can be measured.

Behaviorists believe that learning and development occur in one of three ways:

By the 1980s, behavioral approaches had generally split into three main categories: Classical/ respondent learning Operant conditioning Social modeling

Classical Conditioning
(John B. Watson)
- believe that behaviors can be measured, trained, and changed. - behaviors are acquired through conditioning. - Conditioning occurs through interaction with the environment.

Classical Conditioning (John B. Watson)

Behaviorists believe that our responses to environmental stimuli shapes our behaviors. Only observable behaviors should be studied, since internal states such as cognitions, emotions and moods are too subjective. The preceding event is known as stimuli, the event that followed behavior (response) is known as consequences (reward, punishment, or no effect)

Elements of Classical Conditioning in the Little Albert Experiment

Neutral Stimulus - this is a stimulus that initially does not elicit the response to be conditioned Unconditioned Stimulus: -the unconditioned stimulus (US) is one that unconditionally, naturally, and automatically triggers a response.

Elements of Classical Conditioning in the Little Albert Experiment

For example, when you smell one of your favorite foods, you may immediately feel very hungry. In this example, the smell of the food is the unconditioned stimulus.

Elements of Classical Conditioning in the Little Albert Experiment cont.

Unconditioned Response: -the unconditioned response is the unlearned response that occurs naturally in response to the unconditioned stimulus.

For example, if the smell of food is the unconditioned stimulus, the feeling of hunger in response to the smell of food is the unconditioned response.

Conditioned Stimulus: - the conditioned stimulus is previously neutral stimulus that, after becoming associated with the unconditioned stimulus, eventually comes to trigger a conditioned response.

For example, suppose that the smell of food is an unconditioned stimulus and a feeling of hunger is the unconditioned response. Now, imagine that when you smelled your favorite food, you also heard the sound of a whistle. While the whistle is unrelated to the smell of the food, if the sound of the whistle was paired multiple times with the smell, the sound would eventually trigger the conditioned response. In this case, the sound of the whistle is the conditioned stimulus.

Conditioned Response: - the conditioned response is the learned response to the previously neutral stimulus.

For example, let's suppose that the smell of food is an unconditioned stimulus, a feeling of hunger in response the smell is a unconditioned response, and a the sound of a whistle is the conditioned stimulus. The conditioned response would be feeling hungry when you heard the sound of the whistle.

Respondent Learning (Ivan Pavlov)

Pavlov's classical conditioning is the best example of respondent learning, which occurs due to association between two stimuli. A technique used in behavioral training in which a naturally occurring stimulus is paired with a response. A new response, opposite to feared object, is attached with the feared stimulus. In respondent learning, a person does not have to be an active participant and learning occurs due to an association between two stimuli.

This refers to conditioning of involuntary responses. This idea is consistent with the original concept of behaviorism -application of S-R psychology. Phobias, hatred are created in this way. Same principles of association are applied for unlearning and learning fears.

Operant Conditioning (B.F. Skinner)

Operant conditioning (sometimes referred to as instrumental conditioning) is a method of learning that occurs through rewards and punishments for behavior. Emphasized the effects of the subjects action among the causes of behavior

Reinforcement and Punishment Comparison

PUNISHMENT REINFORCEMENT (Behavior (Behavior Increases) Decreases) POSITIVE (Something is added)
Positive Reinforcement Positive Punishment Something is added to Something is added to increase desired decrease undesired behavior behavior
Ex: Smile and compliment Ex: Give student detention student on good for failing to follow the performance class rules

NEGATIVE (Something is removed)

Negative Reinforcement Something is removed to increase desired behavior

Ex: Give a free homework pass for turning in all assignments

Negative Punishment Something is removed to decrease undesired behavior

Ex: Make student miss their time in recess for not following the class rules

Believes that a learner starts out with a clean slate, and behavior is shaped by positive and negative reinforcement. Operant conditioning is consistent with radical behaviorism with the exception of genetic influence, behavior is controlled by environmental events. Emphasizes the individual, and conditioning is of voluntary responses. The basic idea is to reinforce the desired behaviors and withhold reinforcement for, or punish, undesired behaviors.

By using operant conditioning principles of reward and punishment, retarded children are taught to care for selves. Similarly schizophrenics have been helped to behave more rationally. The significance of rewards/reinforcers varies for different people and different ages. The following may serve as reinforcers: Attention and praise Token economy (people can exchange tokens for rewards) Food items Money In normal life, people will repeat behavior that brings recognition, fame, praise or meets physical needs.

Social Learning Theory (Albert Bandura)

This approach maintains that people acquire new knowledge by observing others is based on classical, operant and cognitive principles. Modeling involves learning by watching and imitating the behaviors of others. Emphasizes the self-regulation of behavior and deemphasizes the importance of external reinforcers.

This approach maintains that some responses are determined by paired experiences, others are influenced by environmental consequences, whereas cognitive mediation guides the acquisition and regulation of behavior. Hence it is possible that even without engaging in that behavior, it can still be learned. Bandura (1977) indicates in Principles of Behavior Modification that people are more likely to learn from and imitate the similar models. Moreover, behaviors from symbolic models (as shown in films, commercials, books, etc.) are also learned.

What teachers do under this theory

Give the learner immediate feedback. Break down the task into small steps Repeat the directions as many times as possible Work from the most simple to the most complex tasks Give positive reinforcement Skinner believed that positive reinforcement is more effective in changing behavior then punishment.

Positive Reinforcement - providing something that learner values (Money, food, reward, gold stars) Primary Reinforcers - has a biological value (food) Conditioned Reinforcer - value created by association with primary reinforcer (money to buy food) Negative Reinforcement - remove something the learner to which the learner is averse (nagging, extra work, noise) Punishment Introduce - something to which the learner is averse (embarrassment, fear, Remove Reinforcement - Take away what the learner

What students do under this theory

Respond to reinforcement Pace themselves in an assignment to work from the most basic to the more complicated concepts Ask questions for more clarity in directions Ask for feedback

Role of the Counselor

The client learns, relearn, unlearn, and in this procedure counselor has to act as a teacher. May even instruct or supervise support people. Counselor functions as a consultant, teacher, adviser, reinforcer, and facilitator. Social learning counselor serves as a model, while counselor with operant and respondent learning approach acts like a teacher.

Role of the Counselor

Rarely will use paper and pencil tests, most employ client assessment devices measuring behavior and action. Often describe their clients according to DSM-IV for categorizing people according to the behaviors they display many of which are listed in DSM-IV.

Goals
The goals of behavioral approaches are similar to other approaches - making people more adjusted by eliminating maladaptive behavior. The following are main goals of behavioral approaches:

To modify or eliminate the maladaptive behaviors To help them acquire healthy, constructive ways of acting To replace unproductive actions with productive ways of responding

Steps in Achieving Goal

Blackham and Siberman (1971) suggested the following steps in the achievement of goals given above.

Define a problem Take a developmental history Establish specific goals Determine the best methods for change

THANK YOU!!!

Reported by: Mrs. Liezel Jimenez - Bacag