Foundition of Behavior

Foundations of Behavior

Week One

Unit one

By Heather Hurst

Behaviorism also known as behaviorist theory is the concept of learning established upon the understanding that all behaviors are learnt through conditioning. Conditioning occurs through interaction with the environment. Behaviorists believe our response to environmental stimuli shapes our behaviors (K. Cherry). Corresponding to behaviorism, conduct can be deliberated in a logical and observable manner with no deliberation of inner mental states. This school of thought suggests that only observable behaviors should be studied, since internal states such as cognitions, emotions and moods are too subjective (K. Cherry).

Criticism of Behaviorism

* A lot of evaluators claim that behaviorism is a one-sided approach to grasp behavior and those behavioral concepts do not excuse free will and inner effects such as attitude, opinions, and emotions.

* Behaviorism is not at fault for other types of learning, particularly learning that occurs without the use of reinforcement and punishment.

* People and animals are capable to adjust their conduct when recent facts are presented, even if a previous conduct repetition has been recognized through reinforcement.

Strengths of Behaviorism

* Behaviorism is center around noticeable behaviors, so it is simpler to calculate and compute data when doing research.

* Effective therapeutic techniques such as intensive behavioral intervention, behavior analysis, token economies and discrete trial training are all rooted in behaviorism. These approaches are often very useful in changing maladaptive or harmful behaviors in both children and adults (K. Cherry).

Structuralism was the primary school of psychology and concentrated on breaking down mental processes into the best elements. Investigators attempted to comprehend the simple components of awareness using a routine known as introspection. Wilhelm Wundt, founder of the first psychology lab, was an advocate of this position and is often considered the founder of structuralism, despite the fact that it was his student, Edward B. Titchener who first coined the term to describe this school of thought (K. cherry).

Criticism of Structuralism

The experimental methods used to analysis the construction of the brain where too independent for today's scientific standers and the use of self- examinations led to a lack of reliability in results.

* Additional critics claim that structuralism was too worried about inner conduct,