Behaviorism, Pavlov’s Dogs, Token Economies
The following three concepts are related to each other by their themes of the former, behaviorism. These concepts all deal with behavior and the study of it.
Firstly, Behaviorism is a psychological theory that focuses on the study of observable behavior, rather than internal mental states. The theory was first introduced by John B. Watson in 1913, who argued that psychology should be an objective science that studies behavior rather than the mind. He believed that behavior could be explained by the laws of learning, which are based on the principles of classical and operant conditioning. Classical conditioning, first described by Ivan Pavlov, is a type of learning in which a neutral stimulus (such as a bell) becomes associated with a naturally occurring response (such as salivating) through repeated pairings with a reflexive response (such as food). Operant conditioning, first described by B.F. Skinner is a type of learning in which behavior is shaped by the consequences that follow it, such as rewards and punishments. According to Skinner, behavior that is followed by a reward is more likely to be repeated, while behavior that is followed by a punishment is less likely to be repeated. Behaviorists believe that all behavior can be explained by these laws of learning and that all behavior is learned through the process of conditioning. They argue that behavior is not innate, but rather is shaped by the environment. Therefore, they believe that it is possible to change behavior by manipulating the environment and the consequences that follow behavior. This approach has been applied in various settings, such as education, therapy, and social work, to help individuals change their behavior and improve their lives.
Pavlov's Dogs is a famous experiment conducted by Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov in the late 19th century. The experiment aimed to investigate the process of classical conditioning, which is a type of learning in which a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a naturally occurring response through repeated pairings. Pavlov used dogs as his subjects and trained them to associate the sound of a bell with food. The experiment was conducted by ringing a bell before giving the dogs food, and after a few trials, the dogs began to salivate at the sound of the bell alone, even when no food was present. This demonstrated that the dogs had learned to associate the sound of the bell with the expectation of food, and the neutral stimulus (bell) had become a conditioned stimulus that could elicit a conditioned response (salivating). This experiment is considered as a classic demonstration of the principle of classical conditioning. Pavlov's experiment has been widely studied and discussed, and it has had a significant impact on the field of psychology, particularly in the areas of learning, memory, and behaviorism. The findings of the experiment have been applied in various settings such as education, therapy, and advertising. The experiment also highlighted the importance of understanding the role of classical conditioning in shaping behavior and has led to more research in the area. Pavlov's dog experiment is still widely used in psychology classes as an example of classical conditioning and its principles.
A Token Economy is a system of behavior modification that utilizes tokens or other symbols as a means of reinforcing desired behaviors. Tokens can take the form of tangible items such as poker chips, or they can be digital, such as points on a computer screen. The tokens can be exchanged for rewards such as food, toys, or other privileges. This system is often used in institutional settings, such as prisons and hospitals, as well as in educational and therapeutic settings. The basic principle of the Token Economy is based on operant conditioning. By using tokens as a form of positive reinforcement, the Token Economy increases the likelihood that the behavior will be repeated. Tokens can be earned by performing specific desired behaviors, such as completing an assignment, following instructions, or exhibiting appropriate social behavior. The tokens can then be exchanged for various rewards such as privileges, snacks, or activities. Token Economies are effective in increasing appropriate behavior and decreasing inappropriate behavior, especially in institutional settings. They have been used to modify a wide range of behaviors such as aggression, self-injury, and noncompliance. Token Economies have also been used in educational settings to increase academic performance and improve social skills. It has also been used in therapeutic settings to improve communication skills and to increase participation in activities of daily living. Overall, Token Economies is a powerful tool for behavior modification that can be used to improve the lives of individuals with a wide range of behavioral problems.
Resources
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/behaviorism/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_conditioning
https://vkc.vumc.org/assets/files/tipsheets/tokeneconomytips.pdf
Which of the following is NOT an example of a reinforcement in operant conditioning?
- A child getting candy for cleaning their room
- A student receiving a failing grade for not completing an assignment
- An animal being petted for sitting
- A bird singing for no reason
Which of the following is true about classical conditioning?
- It only involves a single trial of pairing
- It only occurs in humans
- It involves learning through repeated pairings of a neutral stimulus with a naturally occurring response
- It involves learning through punishment
In Pavlov's Dog experiment, what was the unconditioned response?
- The sound of the bell
- The dogs salivating
- The food
- The expectation of food
In a token economy, what is the ultimate goal of the system?
- To increase the number of tokens earned
- To decrease the number of tokens earned
- To exchange tokens for rewards
- To increase the appropriate behavior and decrease the inappropriate behavior
Behaviorism is associated with which of the following statements?
- Internal mental states are the main focus of the study
- Behavior can be explained by the laws of learning
- Behavior is innate and not shaped by the environment
- Behavior is shaped by past experiences
Connections to Teaching
1. Teachers need to learn the aspects of both operant and classical conditioning to better meet needs throughout the classroom.
2. A token economy works well in a classroom, as it is a small society. We can teach our students about the token economies of larger societies as we exchange rewards and punishments between them to create appropriate behavior expectations.
Current Events in Education
According to some sources, the entire system of behaviorism and token economies in the classroom has been destroyed or completely ignored by students through the events of the COVID-19 pandemic. The cited article above is from 2022, just six months before the writing of this segment.
Key Thinkers
Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936) was a Russian scientist who conducted behaviorism experiments on dogs with classical conditioning.
John B. Watson (1878-1958) was an American psychologist who, as stated above, believed that psychology should focus on the study of behavior and thus established behaviorism as a major tenet of psychology.
B. F. Skinner (1904-1990) was an American psychologist who established the concept of operant conditioning in the behaviorism field of psychology.
Summary Box
Behaviorism is the study of human behavior and behavior conditioning, namely classical conditioning and operant conditioning. Classical conditioning comes from the experiment conducted by Ivan Pavlov, where he trained his dogs to anticipate food whenever he rang a bell. A key part of behaviorism is the concept of the token economy, which is a system of reinforcing positive behaviors to gain desired behaviors.
Vocabulary
Behaviorism: behaviorism believes that behaviors can be learned, unlearned, or modified by manipulating the environment and the consequences that follow behavior.
Classical Conditioning: Classical conditioning is a form of learning in which a neutral stimulus is repeatedly paired with a naturally occurring stimulus that triggers a response, leading to the neutral stimulus alone producing the same response.
Operant Conditioning: Operant conditioning is a form of learning in which behavior is shaped by the consequences that follow it. Specifically, behavior that is followed by a reward or reinforcement is more likely to occur in the future, while behavior that is followed by punishment or no reinforcement is less likely to occur.
Warning Box
Behaviorism has had many debates and controversies, with some professionals arguing that it should be the main focus of all psychological studies, with others arguing against the idea that all human psychological problems are related to behavior, learned or otherwise.
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