Behaviorism: Antecedent Influences - Ch9 - History of Modern Psychology - Schultz & Schultz

Summary

In this chapter of Schultz and Schultz's History of Modern Psychology, Dr. Mark Atala discusses the antecedent influences for behaviorism, highlighting the contributions of Clever Hans, Thorndike, Pavlov, and Watson. Clever Hans, a horse trained by William Von Austin, demonstrated seemingly advanced cognitive abilities, which were later attributed to unintentional conditioning. The chapter outlines Thorndike's pioneering research on animal learning through puzzle boxes and Pavlov's discovery of conditioned reflexes, emphasizing the shift from mentalistic concepts to observable behavior, as advocated by Watson. This transformation laid the foundation for modern behaviorism.

Takeaways

• 🐴 Clever Hans, a horse trained by William Von Austin, demonstrated seemingly advanced mathematical abilities, but his behavior was later explained as a response to subtle cues from his trainer.
• 📚 John Watson, who founded behaviorism in 1913, emphasized the importance of studying observable behavior, rejecting mentalistic concepts like consciousness.
• 🐾 Jacques Loeb proposed that animal behavior is a direct and automatic response to stimuli, influencing the study of animal psychology.
• 🧠 Edward Thorndike's experiments with cats introduced the concept of connectionism, showing how learning occurs through connections between situations and responses.
• 🔍 Thorndike developed the law of effect, which states that actions leading to satisfaction become associated with the situation, while those leading to discomfort do not.
• 🥇 Ivan Pavlov is renowned for his research on conditioned reflexes, discovering that dogs salivated in anticipation of food, highlighting the concept of classical conditioning.
• 🔔 Pavlov's research demonstrated the importance of reinforcement; if a stimulus does not result in a reward, the conditioned response can extinguish over time.
• ⚖️ Other figures like Edward Twitmer and Alois Kedel contributed to the understanding of conditioning, though their work was overshadowed by Pavlov's findings.
• 👥 Vladimir Bekhterev studied associated reflexes and had a contentious relationship with Pavlov, despite both being progressive in including diverse individuals in their research.
• 📉 The movement in psychology shifted away from concepts of consciousness toward a focus on behavior, with functionalists like G. Stanley Hall advocating for a more objective approach.

Q & A

What was Clever Hans known for?

Clever Hans was a horse that appeared to demonstrate exceptional abilities, such as adding, subtracting, identifying coins, and performing feats of memory. His trainer, William Von Austin, believed Hans could display human-like intelligence.

What did the investigation into Clever Hans reveal?

The investigation found no fraud; instead, it revealed that Hans was conditioned to respond to the slightest cues from his trainer, such as head movements, leading him to tap in response.

Who is considered the founder of behaviorism?

John B. Watson is considered the founder of behaviorism, which he established in 1913, emphasizing the study of observable behavior and rejecting mentalistic concepts.

What is the significance of Edward Lee Thorndike in psychology?

Edward Lee Thorndike was a pioneering figure in animal psychology and is known for developing the law of effect, which states that behaviors that produce satisfying outcomes are more likely to recur.

What is the concept of connectionism proposed by Thorndike?

Connectionism is the idea that learning involves forming connections between stimuli and responses, where stimulus-response units are the building blocks of more complex behaviors.

How did Ivan Pavlov contribute to behavioral psychology?

Ivan Pavlov is best known for his research on conditioned reflexes, discovering that dogs salivated in response to stimuli associated with food, leading to the formulation of classical conditioning principles.

What are the key differences between unconditional and conditional reflexes according to Pavlov?

Unconditional reflexes occur naturally, such as salivating when eating, while conditional reflexes are learned responses to stimuli associated with an unconditioned stimulus, like salivating at the sight of food.

What was the relationship between Pavlov and the Soviet government?

Pavlov had a complicated relationship with the Soviet government, often writing protest letters to Stalin, yet he continued to receive research support throughout his life.

How did functionalism influence the development of behaviorism?

Functionalism emphasized the study of behavior and objectivity while criticizing introspection, paving the way for behaviorism to emerge as a discipline focused on observable actions rather than consciousness.

What was the impact of the 1909 APA convention on animal psychology?

At the 1909 APA convention, Watson suggested that animal psychologists meet for dinner, highlighting the marginalization of animal studies, as they only accounted for 4% of research published in psychology journals at the time.