Name:
Institution:
Course:
Instructor:
Date:
Behavioral Psychology
“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 as cited in Hergenhahn, 2008). This is a famous quote from one of the most highly acclaimed psychologists to have ever lived. This statement is based upon the subject of behavioral psychology. This theory states that behavioral patterns are dictated by the environment with which a person interacts. This interaction with a given environment is known as conditioning.
Behavioral psychology is a very fascinating subject because it tends to assume all the internal mental states of an individual and gives focus to ones behavioral patterns. The theory opposes the principal thought that persons perform best in areas in which they are gifted. Instead, the theory proposes that a person’s behavioral pattern is dictated by his interaction with the immediate environment. Conditioning occurs in two main types: classical conditioning and operant conditioning.
Classical conditioning is one of the most researched aspects of behavioral psychology (Cohen, McChargue, & Collins, 2003). Classical conditioning was first proposed by Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov. In his proposal, Ivan Pavlov was of the idea that a learning process takes place when there is interaction between an environmental stimulus and a physical motivation. Classical conditioning involves placing a neutral stimulus in an approximate position in relation to an impulse (Cohen, McChargue, & Collins, 2003).
To defend his theory, Ivan Pavlov used a tone to represent a stimulus to the naturally occurring reflex of salivating in a dog. In the experiment, food was presented to the dog whenever the tone was turned on. Whenever the dog saw the food, the dog’s reflex was that of salivation. It was noted that the dog was salivating after hearing the tone even during moments when there was no food. At this time, the dog had associated the neutral stimulus with the environmental stimulus. The neutral stimulus is the tone whereas the environmental stimulus in this case is the provision of food. This explained why the dog went ahead to produce the salivation response on hearing the tone without the presentation of food (Quick, & Tetrick, 2003).
There are various basic principles that dictate the process, one of them being the unconditioned stimulus. The unconditioned stimulus is one that spurs a reflex in free circumstances. This is depicted when an individual smells the sweet aroma of delicious food and saliva is unconditionally, naturally, and automatically produced, resulting in one ending up feeling hungry. In this instance, the sweet aroma of food is the unconditioned stimulus. The unconditioned response on the other hand is the untutored reflex action in reaction to the unconditioned stimulus. In the above illustration, the feeling of hunger in response to the presentation of food is the unconditioned response.
The conditioned stimulus is a stimulus first occurring under neutral status but later becoming associated to an unconditioned stimulus. The stimulus later triggers a conditioned response. In the above example when a ringing bell precedes the sweet aroma, the unconditioned stimulus, in this case the ringing bell would later be associated with the presentation of food, thereby triggering hunger. Although the ringing bell is unrelated to the sweet aroma, multiple pairing of the two stimuli would lead the bell ring to triggering the conditioned response. The conditioned response on the other hand is the tutored reflex action to the neutral stimulus depicted above. In the given illustration, the hunger being felt and the salivation would be the conditioned responses to the sound of the bell ringing.
In reality, the responses do not occur like the one seen in Pavlov’s dogs. However, the idea of classical conditioning is used economically during dog training techniques. These techniques are not restricted to dogs only. In the medical field and specifically psychology, phobias and anxieties are mainly treated using these techniques. Teachers have been able to help students cope with phobias related to low performances in class. This is done by employing classical conditioning in creating a favorable environment in which the students feel comfortable, enabling them overcome their fears and anxieties. The teachers pair the favorable learning environment with a dreaded activity like presenting in front of a group. A favorable learning environment motivates self-confidence enabling the students learn new associations.
Operant conditioning on the other hand is behavior acquisition through rewards and punishments for the actions committed. This type of conditioning is sometimes known as instrumental conditioning. Through operant conditioning, the individual usually makes a connection or association between an action or behavior and the rewards or repercussions resulting from the act. The first person to come up with this study is the renowned behaviorist B.F. Skinner. This led to the phenomena being sometimes known as Skinnerian conditioning. The behaviorist proposed that behavioral patterns could not be explained by studying the internal thoughts and motivations. An individual’s behavioral patterns could only be explained by studying the external observable results of the individual’s behavior (David, Michael, Brian, & Emee, 2011).
Skinner defined the term operant to imply an “active behavior that operates upon the environment to generate consequences” (Hergenhahn, 2008). This theory explained how we get to learn the various behavioral patterns we exhibit in different situations. Operant conditioning is used to explain the extra effort individuals put into their work when the stakes are high. Children tend to try to finish their assignments if the parent or teacher promises them a reward. In the corporate sector, projects are finished on time and are done to perfection if individuals are assured of getting salary increments and promotions.
The above illustrations show how individuals improve their behavioral patterns if the rewards are increased. This shows how operant conditioning ends up improving the behavioral activity using the promise of rewards. Operant conditioning can also result in reverse effects; those of bringing about decreased behavioral patterns. This is done by removing the stakes, resulting in a certain negative behavior or action. The rewarding of low marks in a given exam for instance, will result in the students not studying hard for the exam. Decreasing the wages of employees will highly de-motivate them thereby decreasing their output.
Operant conditioning exhibits a couple of key components. These are reinforcement and punishment. Reinforcement leads in improvement or the decrease of negative behavior. There exists two types of reinforces. These are positive reinforcers and negative reinforcers. Positive reinforcers are favorable results that are awarded after a certain act, which leads in the improvement of the given behavioral pattern. Positive reinforcers end up creating a motivation for the behavior (Michie, & Abraham, 2004). This is done by setting or raising the rewards or stakes presented to the individuals who act in the preferred manner. Negative reinforcers on the other hand entail the removal of undesirable results of a given action. In this case, the individuals end up getting motivated after the unpleasant repercussions are removed. Both negative and positive reinforcers end up improving the behavioral pattern of the individuals (Michie, & Abraham, 2004).
Punishment involves the inclusion of undesirable results after a given behavior or act, resulting in the demoralization of the individuals, hence the decrease in the behavioral patterns. Punishment presents itself in two aspects, positive punishment and negative punishment. Positive punishment involves the incorporation of an undesirable event to weaken the reflex to the given event. Positive punishment is also referred to as punishment by application. Negative punishment on the other hand occurs when a desirable event is eliminated after a given act. In both positive and negative punishments, the behavioral pattern is weakened.
Various events have taken place resulting in the current state of research into behavioral psychology. The earliest known research in the subject is the introduction of the notion of inhibitory responses in the central nervous system in a document published by Ivan Sechenov in 1863. This was followed by a more detailed study by Ivan Pavlov in the 1900’s on various reflexes and responses including the secretion of saliva at the thought of meals. In 1913, John Watson made remarkable headway in the subject when he successfully published an article outlining the different aspects of behaviorism. The article was known as Psychology as the Behaviorist Views it.
In the year 1920, Watson and his assistant Rosalie Rayner conducted an experiment that included exposing a young child to different stimuli and investigating his responses to the stimuli. The child was exposed to a white rat, a rabbit, a monkey, masks and burning newspapers and the relevant responses of the boy to these stimuli were recorded and analyzed. The study showed how classical conditioning could be used to control an emotional reflex to a given stimulus (Ogden, 2007).
Behavioral psychology is a strong subject as it has fewer weaknesses as opposed to other theories on human behavior. The theory depends upon observable aspects of human behavior neglecting all the internal mental states of an individual. This makes it easy for scientists to conduct studies as it entails quantifiable aspects. It also enhances scientific study as data can be easily collected and documented. The theory has led to the successful treatment of maladaptive behavioral patterns. This is made possible through effective therapeutic techniques. Medics have been able to manipulate stimuli and response aspects of individuals as curative techniques to cure certain harmful behaviors and phobias in patients. The theory also explains why individuals and animals are able to adapt to new stimuli and incorporate the new behavior into the reinforced and established behavioral patterns.
The theory has altogether been received rather critically in some circles. Some critics have discredited the theory by stating that the theory is one-dimensional, thus shallow in its study. It has been stated that the theory fails to account for crucial aspects such as free will and internal influences. It is arguable that certain aspects such as moods, thoughts and feelings, which have been used to explain certain behavioral patterns in individuals, are not taken into account. The theory also fails to account for the aspects of learning or tutoring.
In conclusion, behavioral psychology is a theory that explains why individuals react differently to different stimuli. The theory discredits the various excuses presented by individuals on why they do not perform well in various activities. The theory does not regard internal mental and emotional states of an individual such as talents, moods, thoughts and feelings. The theory gives strength to the idea that an individual’s potential is limitless.
References
Cohen, L.M., McChargue, D.E., & Collins, Jr. F.L. (Eds.). (2003). The health psychology handbook: Practical issues for the behavioral medicine specialist. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
David F. M., Michael, M., Brian, E. & Emee V. (2011). Health Psychology. Theory-Research-Practice (3rd Ed.) New York, NY: Sage Publications.
Hergenhahn, B. (2008). An Introduction to the History of Psychology. New York, NY: Cengage Learning.
Michie, S.; & Abraham, C. (Eds.). (2004). Health psychology in practice. London: BPS Blackwells.
Ogden, J. (2007). Health psychology: A textbook (4th ed.). Berkshire, England: Open University Press.
Quick, J.C., & Tetrick, L.E. (Eds.). (2003). Handbook of occupational health psychology. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Use the order calculator below and get started! Contact our live support team for any assistance or inquiry.
[order_calculator]