Psychology as a science is quite broad in its scope of views on human activity and the mechanisms associated with it. One of the key concepts is behaviorism. He studies the behavioral reactions of not only people, but also animals. In this article, we will examine the essence of behaviorism and the main provisions, as well as get acquainted with representatives of this direction.
The essence of the concept
Unofficially, behaviorism began in the early 19th century. Then the American scientist Edward Thorndike discovered the law of effect. This is a process in which an individual’s behavior through certain events or reactions is enhanced. Its development in the twentieth century was continued and formulated in a separate concept by John Watson. This was a truly revolutionary breakthrough and determined the face of American psychology for decades to come.
Behaviourism (from English "behavior" - behavior) has turned scientific ideas about the psyche. The subject of study was not consciousness, but the behavior of the individual as a response to external stimuli (stimuli). In this case, subjective experiences were not denied, but were dependent on verbal or emotional influences on the personality.
By behavior, Watson understood the actions and words that a person commits and pronounces throughout his life. This is a set of reactions due to which adaptation to new conditions occurs. The followers of the concept revealed that this process includes not only mental, but also physiological changes (for example, muscle contraction, accelerated secretion of glands).
Key Points
J. Watson formulated the basic principles of behaviorism, which give an idea of the direction and methods of its adherents:
- The subject of psychology is the behavior of living beings. It is associated with mental and physiological aspects and can be investigated by observation.
- The main task of behaviorism is the correct prediction of the individual's actions according to the nature of the external stimulus. The solution to this problem helps to shape, control human behavior.
- All reactions are divided into congenital (unconditioned reflexes) and acquired (conditioned reflexes).
- Repeated repetition leads to automation and memorization of actions. Therefore, it can be argued that human behavior is the result of training, the development of a conditioned reflex (skills).
- Thinking and speaking are also skills.
- Memory is the process of storing acquired reflexes.
- Mental reactions develop throughout life and depend on environmental conditions, society.
- Emotions are the body's response to pleasant and unpleasant stimuli.
- There is no periodization of age development and general patterns of the formation of the psyche.
Watson's views were largely influenced by the research of Ivan Petrovich Pavlov. The Russian academician found that conditioned and unconditioned reflexes in animals form a certain reactive behavior. He derived several general models. And Watson, in turn, conducted a series of experiments with infants and identified three instinctive reactions: anger, fear and love. However, the scientist was not able to uncover the nature of complex patterns of behavior.
Representatives
Watson was not alone in his views. His like-minded William Hunter in 1914 created a scheme for studying animal behavior. She subsequently received the definition of “deferred”. The experiment involved a monkey, which was shown in one of the two boxes of banana. Then they covered it all with a screen, and after a while they opened it again. And the monkey successfully found a treat, already knowing its location. This was a demonstration of a delayed response to a stimulus.
Another behaviorist, Karl Lashley, tried to understand what parts of the animal’s brain depend on the acquired skill. To do this, he trained the mouse, and then surgically removed a specific area of the brain to it. As a result, the psychologist proved that all parts are equivalent and can replace each other.
Currents of behaviorism
Some basic principles of Watson's behaviorism, which was defined as classical (methodological), were disproved by cognitive psychology at the end of the 20th century. In addition, the currents were formulated, the methods of which are used in modern psychotherapy. Among these, it is worth highlighting the radical, psychological and social behaviorism.
The representative of the radical concept is Burres Skinner - an American scientist, inventor. He suggested that the behavior of an individual is directly dependent on internal events (thoughts and feelings). This was an experimental analysis, which in many respects echoed with philosophical positions (for example, with American pragmatism). While J. Watson, by contrast, denied introspection.
The founder of psychological behaviorism was Arthur Staats. He argued that human behavior lends itself to practical control. To do this, he suggested using timeouts and a token reward system. Until now, these techniques have been used in programs of child development and pathopsychology.
The theory of behaviorism includes the social aspect. His supporters believe that the definition of stimuli of external influence depends on the social experience of the individual.
Cognitive behaviorism
Cognitive behaviorism stands apart. The main provisions were formulated in the 30s of the last century by Edward Tolman. According to them, in training, mental processes are not limited to the strict stimulus-response relationship. The American psychologist expanded the chain to include intermediate factors - cognitive perceptions. They are able to influence human behavior: enhance or slow down the acquisition of habits. Cognitive activity is identified with mental images, possible expectations and other variables.
Tolman conducted experiments using animals. For example, he provided them with the opportunity to find food in the maze in various ways. The goal in this case prevailed over the way of behavior, so Tolman called his concept "targeted behaviorism."
Pros and cons
Like any scientific field, classical behaviorism has strengths and weaknesses.
The study of human behavioral reactions was a breakthrough for the beginning of the 20th century. Prior to this, the attention of scientists was focused only on consciousness in isolation from objective reality. However, the new method was still incomplete, one-sided.
The followers of the concept examined the behavior of living beings only in external manifestations, without taking into account physiological and mental processes.
Behavioralists believed that human behavior can be controlled, thereby reducing it to the manifestation of simple reactions. And the active nature of the individual was not taken into account.
The methods of laboratory experiments formed the basis for the studies of behaviorists, but there was no clear difference between the behavior of humans and animals.
Motivation and mental action are indispensable components in the acquisition of new skills. And behaviorists mistakenly denied them.
Conclusion
Despite criticism from adherents of other areas, behaviorism is still actively used in psychology. Its main provisions are also suitable for the construction of the pedagogical process. However, it is important to note some limitations of the approach. As a rule, they are associated with ethical issues (public relations). The inability to reduce the complex psyche of a person only to the basic principles of behaviorism contributes to the fact that scientists combine different methods.