Behaviorism: A Historical Perspective
Behaviorism has been a major force in the field of psychology for over a century. It is an approach to understanding behavior that focuses on observable responses to environmental stimuli, rather than on internal mental states. This article will provide a brief overview of the history of behaviorism, beginning with its early development in the work of Ivan Pavlov and John B. Watson, and continuing through its various forms, including radical behaviorism, applied behavior analysis, and the behaviorist-cognitivist synthesis.
Ivan Pavlov and the Classical Conditioning Model
The foundation of behaviorism was laid in the late 19th century by Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov. Pavlov was studying the digestive systems of dogs when he made the accidental discovery that dogs would salivate not just in response to food, but also in anticipation of it. He hypothesized that this was due to a conditioned response, which could be elicited by a conditioned stimulus. Pavlov then conducted a series of experiments in which he paired an unconditioned stimulus, such as food, with a neutral stimulus, such as a bell, in order to create a conditioned response. This became known as classical conditioning.
John B. Watson and the Behavioral Revolution
John B. Watson was an American psychologist who built upon Pavlov’s work and is credited with founding the psychological school of behaviorism. Watson’s groundbreaking 1913 paper, “Psychology as the Behaviorist Views It,” proposed a new scientific approach to psychology in which behavior was studied in terms of external causes and effects, rather than internal mental states. Watson argued that psychology should focus on observable behavior and the environment in which it occurs, and that the goal of psychology should be to predict and control behavior. His behaviorist approach was heavily influential in the development of psychology as a science.
Radical Behaviorism
Radical behaviorism was developed in the mid-20th century by American psychologist B.F. Skinner. Skinner argued that behavior is shaped by its consequences – positive reinforcement strengthens behavior, while negative reinforcement decreases it. He proposed that behavior can be modified through operant conditioning, a form of learning in which behavior is shaped by the consequences of the individual’s own actions. Skinner’s work had a profound influence on psychology, and his theories still form the basis of much of modern psychology.
Applied Behavior Analysis
Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is a form of behaviorism that focuses on the application of behavior principles to practical problems, such as autism and other developmental disabilities. ABA seeks to identify the environmental factors that influence behavior and to develop strategies for modifying behavior. ABA is widely used in schools, hospitals, and other settings, and has been shown to be effective in improving learning and behavior.
Behaviorist-Cognitivist Synthesis
In recent decades, behaviorism has been integrated with cognitive psychology in a “behaviorist-cognitivist synthesis.” This synthesis seeks to combine the insights of both behaviorism and cognitivism in order to explain behavior in terms of both external stimulus-response relationships and internal cognitive processes. This approach has been especially successful in the field of education, where it has been used to develop effective teaching methods.
Conclusion
Behaviorism has been a major influence in the field of psychology for over a century. Its roots lie in the work of Ivan Pavlov and John B. Watson, and its forms include radical behaviorism, applied behavior analysis, and the behaviorist-cognitivist synthesis. Behaviorism has been highly influential in the development of psychology as a science, and its principles are still widely used in various fields today.
References
Pavlov, I. P. (1927). Lectures on conditioned reflexes: Twenty-five years of objective study of the higher nervous activity (behavior) of animals. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Watson, J. B. (1913). Psychology as the behaviorist views it. Psychological Review, 20(2), 158-177. doi:10.1037/h0074428
Skinner, B. F. (1938). The behavior of organisms: An experimental analysis. New York, NY: Appleton-Century-Crofts.
Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2007). Applied behavior analysis (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.
Heward, W. L. (2003). Exceptional children: An introduction to special education (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.
Stacy, A. (2013). Behaviorism, cognitivism and constructivism: Comparing critical features from an instructional design perspective. International Journal of Instructional Technology & Distance Learning, 10(7), 39-50.