Neo-behaviorism
This field agrees with the behaviorist
stance that overt behavior is what should be studied, but felt that speculation
about abstract concepts was an acceptable method as long as the speculation is investigated
after operationally defining terms and forming testable hypotheses.
1875-----1900-----1925-----1950-----1975-----2000
-----------Guthrie------------
--------------Skinner--------------
Chose to study purposive behavior in place of Watson’s ‘twitchism’
Used rats to avoid introspection
Cognitive events are intervening variables between environmental events and behavior
Learning is latent until it is needed (3 groups of rats in a maze)
Hypothetico-Deductive Theory à a series of self-correcting claims which predict empirical relationships
Drive reduction theory of reinforcement à any behavior that reduces a drive is reinforced
The law of contiguity is the one law of learning (stimuli accompanied by a response will become associated with that response)
One-trial learning à stimuli are linked with responses after the first presentation
Burrhus Frederic Skinner 1904-1990
Greatly influenced by Bacon
Mental events are simply responses to physiological events
Studied operant behavior à behavior which is controlled by its outcome
Skinner’s DV was response rate; anything that can change response rate is a reinforcer
Encouraged reinforcement rather than punishment