Introduction
There are certain names that come to mind when you consider the Behaviourist perspective. Ivan Pavlov and B.F. Skinner are two prominent figures in the field of behaviourism, a branch of psychology that emphasizes the study of observable behaviours and their responses to environmental stimuli. Both contributed significantly to our understanding of learning processes, but their approaches and theories differed in key ways.
Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936)
Ivan Pavlov was a Russian physiologist known primarily for his work in classical conditioning. He initially studied digestive processes in dogs and discovered classical conditioning by accident. He is renowned for his work in classical conditioning. His experiments with dogs illustrated how a neutral stimulus, when paired with an unconditioned stimulus, could evoke a conditioned response. Pavlov observed that “the sight of the laboratory assistant who fed the dogs eventually triggered salivation in the absence of food” (Pavlov, 1927). This discovery laid the groundwork for behaviourism by demonstrating that behaviours could be learned through association.
In Summary
Classical conditioning involves learning through association. Pavlov’s most famous experiment demonstrated this process with dogs.
Experiment: Pavlov observed that dogs would salivate not only when presented with food but also when they heard the footsteps of the lab assistant who fed them. He then conducted experiments where he paired a neutral stimulus (a bell) with an unconditioned stimulus (food). After several pairings, the dogs began to salivate (conditioned response) at the sound of the bell (conditioned stimulus) even when no food was presented.
Key Concepts:
Unconditioned Stimulus (US): Naturally and automatically triggers a response (e.g., food).
Unconditioned Response (UR): Unlearned response that occurs naturally (e.g., salivation).
Conditioned Stimulus (CS): Previously neutral stimulus that, after association with the US, triggers a conditioned response (e.g., bell).
Conditioned Response (CR): Learned response to the previously neutral stimulus (e.g., salivation to the bell).
B.F. Skinner (1904-1990)
B.F. Skinner was an American psychologist and a leading figure in the development of behaviourism, which emphasized the study of observable behaviours over internal mental states. Born Burrhus Frederic Skinner on March 20, 1904, in Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, Skinner’s early interests in literature and science eventually led him to psychology. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature from Hamilton College in 1926 and later earned a Ph.D. in psychology from Harvard University in 1931.
In Summary
Operant Conditioning:
Operant conditioning is the process by which behaviours are influenced by the consequences that follow them.
Experiment: Skinner used a device called the “Skinner Box” to study operant conditioning in animals, particularly rats and pigeons. The box had a lever that an animal could press to receive a reward (food) or avoid a punishment (electric shock).
Key Concepts:
- Reinforcement: Any event that strengthens or increases the likelihood of a behaviour. Can be positive (adding a desirable stimulus) or negative (removing an aversive stimulus).
- Punishment: Any event that decreases the likelihood of a behaviour. Can be positive (adding an aversive stimulus) or negative (removing a desirable stimulus).
- Schedules of Reinforcement: Different patterns of reinforcing behaviour, such as fixed-ratio, variable-ratio, fixed-interval, and variable-interval schedules, which affect the rate and strength of the response.