Behaviorism theory and its founders have contributed significant insights in the fields of psychology and animal behavior. Behaviorism is grounded in the learning theories of classical conditioning and operant conditioning. Behaviorism's main champions, Ivan Pavlov and B.F. Skinner, used animal behavior to study and further their theories.
Behaviorism
Behaviorism, unlike other psychological doctrines, takes the position that psychology is the study of human behavior, not the study of the human mind. According to the theory of behaviorism, behavior is not determined by inner cues or complex psychological thought processes. Behavior is determined by outside forces referred to as stimuli.
Classical Conditioning
Classical conditioning is a proven learning technique for animals. Its place in human psychology has always been a matter of debate. In classical conditioning, an unconditioned stimuli (stimuli that naturally creates a certain response) is paired with a neutral stimuli (stimuli that ordinarily would not create a response). The theory is the two stimuli will come to be associated with one another in the subject's mind. The subject will then respond to the neutral stimuli in the same manner as the unconditioned stimuli. This is what is referred to as a conditioned response.
Pavlov's Dogs
Russian scientist Ivan Pavlov developed the theory of classical conditioning while studying the salivation of dogs. Pavlov realized that dogs would salivate when food was placed in their mouths. After careful observation, Pavlov discovered that the sound of the door opening and the sight of staff carrying food bowls also caused the dogs to salivate. The food is the unconditioned stimuli and the sounds of the door as well as the sight of food are the neutral stimuli. The neutral stimuli, due to its pairing with the unconditioned stimuli, provoked a conditioned response.
Operant Conditioning
Operant conditioning was the brain-child of behavioral scientist B.F. Skinner. Skinner believed that many behaviors were too complex to be explained by classical conditioning. Skinner developed the theory of operant conditioning, which reduces the cause of behaviors to a system of reward and punishment. The underlying philosophy is that subjects will continue to perform behaviors that are repeatedly rewarded and discontinue behaviors that are repeatedly punished.
Behaviorism's Drawbacks
One drawback of behaviorism is its inherent simplicity. Behaviorism does not acknowledge other behavioral causes such as genetics and brain abnormalities. By definition, the theory of behaviorism discounts the study of the human mind.
Behaviorism is based mainly on studies (such as with Pavlov's dogs) that were performed on animals. It does not account for the intellectual differences between humankind and the animal kingdom.
Tags: neutral stimuli, unconditioned stimuli, study human, animal behavior, behavior study, behaviors that