Behavioral Theorists:Behavioral Theorists:Skinner and WatsonSkinner and Watson

By: Francy Lopez & Alex By: Francy Lopez & Alex SparacinoSparacino

The Behavioral Learning TheoryThe Behavioral Learning Theory

• A theory that focuses on objectively observable behaviors and discounts any independent activities of the mind.

•Theorists define learning as nothing more than acquiring new behavior based on environmental factors.

John B. WatsonJohn B. Watson(1878-1958)(1878-1958)

Was born in Greenvile, South Carolina Was born in Greenvile, South Carolina to Emma and Pickens Watson.to Emma and Pickens Watson.

Graduated from Furman University in Graduated from Furman University in 1899.1899.

Received his doctorate in 1903 from the Received his doctorate in 1903 from the University of Chicago.University of Chicago. Majored in psychology and minored Majored in psychology and minored

in philosophy and neurology.in philosophy and neurology. Became an associate professor of Became an associate professor of

psychology at John Hopkins University.psychology at John Hopkins University. Published the article, “Psychology as Published the article, “Psychology as

the Behaviorists Views It” in 1914.the Behaviorists Views It” in 1914. Became the President of the American Became the President of the American

Psychological Association.Psychological Association. Published the “Little Albert experiment Published the “Little Albert experiment

in 1920. in 1920. Died in Connecticut in 1958.Died in Connecticut in 1958.

Watson proposed an idea of objective study of Watson proposed an idea of objective study of behavior (behaviorism)behavior (behaviorism) Saw psychology was the study of peoples actions and Saw psychology was the study of peoples actions and

the ability to predict and control the actions.the ability to predict and control the actions. Behaviorism assumes that behavior is Behaviorism assumes that behavior is

observable and can be correlated with other observable and can be correlated with other observable events.observable events.

The goal is to explain relationships between The goal is to explain relationships between conditions, behavior and consequences.conditions, behavior and consequences.

His view of behaviorism was considered radical.His view of behaviorism was considered radical.

BehaviorismBehaviorism

Took a child named Albert from an orphanage.Took a child named Albert from an orphanage. Wanted to determine if a loud sound would cause a fear response Wanted to determine if a loud sound would cause a fear response

in Albert.in Albert. Albert was placed in a blank roomAlbert was placed in a blank room

An experimenter stood behind him and made a loud noise by An experimenter stood behind him and made a loud noise by striking a hammer on a steel bar.striking a hammer on a steel bar.

First Trial:First Trial: Albert was startled and raised up his hands.Albert was startled and raised up his hands.

Second Trial:Second Trial: Albert began to trembleAlbert began to tremble

Third Trial:Third Trial: Albert was crying and having a fit.Albert was crying and having a fit.

At 9 months old Albert was introduced to a white rat, rabbit, At 9 months old Albert was introduced to a white rat, rabbit, dog, monkey, masks without hair, and more things.dog, monkey, masks without hair, and more things.

He showed no signs of fear when introduced to those things.He showed no signs of fear when introduced to those things. At 11months he was represented with the white rat.At 11months he was represented with the white rat.

Each time he would reach out to touch something the bar would be Each time he would reach out to touch something the bar would be struckstruck..

The first time he was shocked but the second time he started to The first time he was shocked but the second time he started to cry.cry.

A week later he was shown the rat again.A week later he was shown the rat again. Did not reach for it immediately.Did not reach for it immediately. Rat was placed closer; Albert reached for it but then snatched his Rat was placed closer; Albert reached for it but then snatched his

hand away.hand away. Rat was presented again and Albert cried at the sight of the rat..Rat was presented again and Albert cried at the sight of the rat..

Watson did this experiment many more times with different Watson did this experiment many more times with different objects and animals.objects and animals.

Each time Albert showed the same response to the objects/animals.Each time Albert showed the same response to the objects/animals. Watson had accomplished conditioning a fear into Albert.Watson had accomplished conditioning a fear into Albert.

““Little Albert”Little Albert”

Burrhus Frederic Skinner- B. F. SkinnerBurrhus Frederic Skinner- B. F. Skinner(1904-1990)(1904-1990)

Born on March 20, 1904 in Born on March 20, 1904 in Susquehanna, Pennsylvania.Susquehanna, Pennsylvania.

Received his BA in English from Received his BA in English from Hamilton College in upstate New York.Hamilton College in upstate New York.

Went back to school at Harvard when Went back to school at Harvard when he got his masters in psychology in he got his masters in psychology in 1930, and his doctorate in 1931.1930, and his doctorate in 1931. Stayed there to do research until Stayed there to do research until

1936.1936. Taught at the University of Minnesota.Taught at the University of Minnesota. Became chairman of the psychology Became chairman of the psychology

department at Indian University in department at Indian University in 1945.1945.

Went back to Harvard in 1948 to teach Went back to Harvard in 1948 to teach and stayed there for the rest of his life.and stayed there for the rest of his life.

Wrote the book Wrote the book Walden IIWalden II Died on August 18, 1990 of leukemia.Died on August 18, 1990 of leukemia.

Operant ConditioningOperant Conditioning Operant conditioning is a process of behavior Operant conditioning is a process of behavior

modification in which a subject is encouraged to behave modification in which a subject is encouraged to behave in a desired manner through positive or negative in a desired manner through positive or negative reinforcement, so that the subject comes to associate reinforcement, so that the subject comes to associate the pleasure or displeasure of the reinforcement with the the pleasure or displeasure of the reinforcement with the behavior.behavior.

Skinners whole system was based on operant Skinners whole system was based on operant conditioning.conditioning.

Operant conditioning has four parts:Operant conditioning has four parts: Positive Reinforcement- a behavior is strengthened by the Positive Reinforcement- a behavior is strengthened by the

consequence of experiencing something positive.consequence of experiencing something positive. Negative Reinforcement- a behavior is weakened by the Negative Reinforcement- a behavior is weakened by the

consequence of experiencing a negative condition.consequence of experiencing a negative condition. Extinction- a behavior is weakened by the consequence of not Extinction- a behavior is weakened by the consequence of not

experiencing a positive or negative condition.experiencing a positive or negative condition.

The “Skinner Box”The “Skinner Box”(Operant Conditioning Chamber(Operant Conditioning Chamber) )

Skinner was very interested in stimulus-Skinner was very interested in stimulus-response reactions of humans to different response reactions of humans to different situations.situations.

Invented the Skinner Box to test these Invented the Skinner Box to test these theories.theories. Used pigeons and rats.Used pigeons and rats.

The Skinner Box:The Skinner Box: Contained one or more levers which Contained one or more levers which

an animal can pressan animal can press Contained one or more stimulus lights.Contained one or more stimulus lights. Contained one or more places in Contained one or more places in

which reinforces (food) can be which reinforces (food) can be delivered.delivered.

Can also deliver punishers like an Can also deliver punishers like an electric shockelectric shock

The box can measure the animals The box can measure the animals presses on the leverspresses on the levers

Can also measure nose-poking and Can also measure nose-poking and hopping (used with birds).hopping (used with birds).

A Skinner Box

““Skinner Box” ExperimentsSkinner Box” Experiments Skinner did many experiments with the Skinner Box.Skinner did many experiments with the Skinner Box. Rats experiment:Rats experiment:

The rat would be in the box and each time the rat pushed a lever, they The rat would be in the box and each time the rat pushed a lever, they would be rewarded with a pellet of food.would be rewarded with a pellet of food.

If the rat took to long they would be shocked by an electric field at the If the rat took to long they would be shocked by an electric field at the bottom of the box. bottom of the box.

The rat learned that each time they pushed the lever they would be The rat learned that each time they pushed the lever they would be rewarded for their action.rewarded for their action.

Pigeon experiment:Pigeon experiment: The pigeon was almost the same as the rats experiment but they had a few The pigeon was almost the same as the rats experiment but they had a few

different things.different things. The box had a food pellet delivery chute that dropped a pellet of food at The box had a food pellet delivery chute that dropped a pellet of food at

completely random times. completely random times. They pigeons began to do the behaviors that they were doing before the They pigeons began to do the behaviors that they were doing before the

food came down more often.food came down more often. The next time, whatever action they were doing before the food came they The next time, whatever action they were doing before the food came they

did more of.did more of. They would be constantly checking the food chute.They would be constantly checking the food chute.

The Skinner BoxThe Skinner Box

Watson VS. SkinnerWatson VS. Skinner SimilaritiesSimilarities

Both were behavioral Both were behavioral theorists.theorists.

Believed that people were Believed that people were born as blank slates.born as blank slates.

Thought psychology should Thought psychology should be studied as though be studied as though people did not have a people did not have a mind.mind.

Wanted scientists to focus Wanted scientists to focus on the way people learned on the way people learned connections between connections between stimuli and responses.stimuli and responses.

DifferencesDifferences Watson was classical Watson was classical

conditioning while Skinner conditioning while Skinner was operant conditioning.was operant conditioning.

Watson used a human in Watson used a human in his experiments while his experiments while Skinner used animals.Skinner used animals.

Watson was the invented Watson was the invented behaviorism while Skinner behaviorism while Skinner just followed in his just followed in his footsteps.footsteps.

Watson had no Watson had no reinforcements while reinforcements while Skinner did.Skinner did.

BibliographyBibliography

http://www.muskingum.edu/~psych/psycwhttp://www.muskingum.edu/~psych/psycweb/history/watson.htmeb/history/watson.htm

http://www.psychology.sbc.edu/Little%20Ahttp://www.psychology.sbc.edu/Little%20Albert.htmlbert.htm

http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/skinner.hhttp://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/skinner.htmltml

http://www.juliantrubin.com/bigten/http://www.juliantrubin.com/bigten/skinnerbox.htmlskinnerbox.html