BEHAVIOURAL PERSPECTIVE

INTRODUCTION
BEHAVIOURAL
PERPECSTIVES
Founded by John B. Watson
Study of observable, measurable
behaviours
Behaviourist
Pavlov
Thorndike
Skinner
INTRODUCTION
Their ideas on learning are related with
changes in human behaviour
Its the results of observations and
experiments based on animals
Focuses on the r/ship between
stimuli/responses (resulted in changes
of behaviour)
INTRODUCTION
They believed human behaviour can be
observed, controlled and predicted.
a.k.a Stimulus Response Theory
THE
THEORISTS
Pavlov
(1849 1936)
Watson
(1878 1958)

B.F. Skinner
(1904 1990)
Ivan Pavlov Russian Scientist
Pavlovs Theory, Events that previously had no
relation to a given reflex could, through
experience, trigger a reflex.

Classical Conditioning
A reflexive or automatic type of learning in
which a stimulus acquires the capacity to
evoke a response that was originally evoked
by another stimulus.
Pavlovs experiment with dogs

During Pavlovs experiment on dogs digestive
processes, he accidentally discovery other things.
When meat powder presented to Pavlovs dogs, they
begin to salivation.
Over time, he noticed that his dogs begin to salivation
before the meat powder was even presented.
Fascinated by this finding, he paired the meat powder
with stimuli like the ringing of a bell.
After several times, the bell was used alone without the
food and as predicted, the dogs begin salivating as a
respond of the sound produced.


Pavlov therefore demonstrated how stimulus-response
bonds are formed.
In technical terms,
the meat powder = unconditioned stimulus (UCS)
the dogs salivation = unconditioned response (UCR).
the bell = conditioned stimulus (CS) which
produces the conditioned response
(CR) of salivation after repeated
pairings (the bell and food.)

John. Broadus Watson American
Psychologist
His most famous research is related to
childrens emotion by using the Classical
Conditioning Model.

Extended Pavlovs work on Classical
Conditioning
Applied it to human beings.
In 1921, Watson studied Albert, an 9 month
old infant child.
The goal of the study was to condition Albert to become
afraid of a white rat by pairing the white rat with a very loud,
jarring noise (UCS).
At first, Albert showed no sign of fear when he was
presented with rats, but once the rat was repeatedly paired
with the loud noise (UCS), Albert developed a fear of rats.
It could be said that the loud noise (UCS) induced fear
(UCR).
The implications of Watsons experiment suggested that
classical conditioning could cause some phobias in
humans.
Burrhus Frederic Skinner - American
Psychologist
Skinners Theory, Changes in behaviour are
the result of an individuals response to events.
Operant Conditioning
Organisms normally operate on the
environment instead of reacting to the stimuli
presented to them.
Response emitted from self-motivation
Example 1: Parents rewarding a childs excellent
grades with candy or some other prize.
Example 2: A schoolteacher awards points to those
students who are the most calm and well-behaved.
Students eventually realize that when they
voluntarily become quieter and better behaved, that
they earn more points.
Example 3: A form of reinforcement (such as food)
is given to an animal every time the animal (for
example, a hungry lion) presses a lever.
3 Concepts of Operant
Conditioning Learning Model
1. Operant response occurs from the
initiative of oneself. (response achieve
its desired result -> it will established
and sustained)

2. Positive and negative reinforcers

3. Positive and negative reinforcement
Concepts Positive Negative
Reinforcer
(stimulus which can
sustain individual
response)
Reward Punishment
(withdrawal of
reward which has
been promised)
Reinforcement
(technique or
process which uses
the reinforcer to
strengthen and
sustain the relevant
response)
A response is
strengthened
because of
rewarding stimulus
that follows.

A response is
strengthened
because of removal
of an unpleasant
stimulus.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CLASSICAL AND
OPERANT CONDITIONING
Classical conditioning - a stimulus automatically
triggers an involuntary response.

Operant conditioning - a voluntary response is
then followed by a reinforcing stimulus. In this
way, the voluntary response (e.g. studying for
an exam) is more likely to be done by the
individual.