11

Behaviorism of Pavlov Behaviorism of Pavlov and Watsonand Watson

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Russian influence on American Russian influence on American PsychologyPsychology

Early 20Early 20thth century century Sechanov - objective measurement of Sechanov - objective measurement of

behavior as reflexesbehavior as reflexes

Pavlov – physiologist studying dog digestive Pavlov – physiologist studying dog digestive system and the conditioned responsesystem and the conditioned response

American behaviorism based upon the S -> R American behaviorism based upon the S -> R relationshiprelationship

33

Reports of the Conditioned Reports of the Conditioned ResponseResponse

1904 – Pavlov reported finding the conditioned 1904 – Pavlov reported finding the conditioned response while accepting a Nobel prize in response while accepting a Nobel prize in physiologyphysiology

However:However: 1902 – American Edward Twitmeyer reported similar 1902 – American Edward Twitmeyer reported similar

behavior in humans in his dissertationbehavior in humans in his dissertation 1904 – He reported these findings at the American 1904 – He reported these findings at the American

Psychological Association ConferencePsychological Association Conference

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Why Pavlovian Conditioning and Why Pavlovian Conditioning and not Twitmeyer Conditioning?not Twitmeyer Conditioning?

Related to the discovery process in Related to the discovery process in sciencescience Discovery usually evolves – one discovery Discovery usually evolves – one discovery

leads to another as you keep investigating itleads to another as you keep investigating it

While scientific discoveries evolve, there is no While scientific discoveries evolve, there is no clear cut judgment as to the value of the clear cut judgment as to the value of the evolution like natural selection – should it evolution like natural selection – should it continuecontinue

55

The situationThe situation

Two research findings, both found Two research findings, both found accidentally, both report the same accidentally, both report the same findings, and reported at the same time findings, and reported at the same time

One ignored for 70 yearsOne ignored for 70 years

One continued to become a major One continued to become a major foundation of psychologyfoundation of psychology

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The Fame of PavlovThe Fame of Pavlov

Pavlov announced his finding and his Pavlov announced his finding and his intent to continue his research while intent to continue his research while accepting a Nobel prizeaccepting a Nobel prize

Twitmeyer – a lowly lecturer reported his Twitmeyer – a lowly lecturer reported his findings as the last speaker at an APA findings as the last speaker at an APA session chaired by William James and session chaired by William James and others who showed no interest in his ideasothers who showed no interest in his ideas

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Reasons for Twitmeyer’s obscurityReasons for Twitmeyer’s obscurity

Proposed reasons:Proposed reasons: Most of his findings were uninteresting to his Most of his findings were uninteresting to his

audienceaudience Twitmeyer unable to promote his ideasTwitmeyer unable to promote his ideas American psychology not ready to see the American psychology not ready to see the

significance of his discoverysignificance of his discovery Poor introduction by James and lack of Poor introduction by James and lack of

discussiondiscussion Blaming his obscurity on him personally is Blaming his obscurity on him personally is

probably overly simplisticprobably overly simplistic

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Pavlov and TwitmeyerPavlov and Twitmeyer

Pavlov – highly Pavlov – highly respected scientistrespected scientist

Established highly Established highly productive labproductive lab

Other researchers Other researchers interestedinterested

Substantial support Substantial support system encouraged system encouraged himhim

Twitmeyer – new with Twitmeyer – new with no reputationno reputation

Small lab, no staff, Small lab, no staff, little moneylittle money

No colleagues No colleagues interestedinterested

No security – junior No security – junior faculty positionfaculty position

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Most important reasonMost important reason

American psychology not ready to see American psychology not ready to see importance of his discovery and the need to importance of his discovery and the need to follow-up on itfollow-up on it

American psychologists were mostly dualistsAmerican psychologists were mostly dualists

Twitmeyer’s findings that that a mental process Twitmeyer’s findings that that a mental process can cause a physical reaction was unimportantcan cause a physical reaction was unimportant

1010

Important asideImportant aside

Neither Pavlov nor Twitmeyer 1Neither Pavlov nor Twitmeyer 1stst to report to report this type of conditioningthis type of conditioning

Animals salivating at he sight of food was Animals salivating at he sight of food was reported in 1763, 1803, 1872, and 1878reported in 1763, 1803, 1872, and 1878

Pavlov’s fame is due to his continued Pavlov’s fame is due to his continued study of the phenomenon and his study of the phenomenon and his enthusiasmenthusiasm

1111

Pavlov, the driven scientistPavlov, the driven scientist

Science was important than almost Science was important than almost everything elseeverything else

1887-1891 – period of poverty – did his 1887-1891 – period of poverty – did his research at homeresearch at home

Lab assistant ½ hour late one morning Lab assistant ½ hour late one morning during the Bolshevik revolution during the Bolshevik revolution

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Pavlov the surgeonPavlov the surgeon Recognized that standard lesion work had Recognized that standard lesion work had

limited valuelimited value

Introduced the use of sterile procedures during Introduced the use of sterile procedures during animal surgeryanimal surgery

Major surgical procedures: Major surgical procedures: isolation of part of the stomach in a pouch outside a isolation of part of the stomach in a pouch outside a

dogdog Severed the esophagus so food would not go to Severed the esophagus so food would not go to

stomach stomach

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Pavlov and classical conditioningPavlov and classical conditioning

11stst noted in 1891 described a nuisance noted in 1891 described a nuisance responseresponse

Later studies described what we know Later studies described what we know about classical conditioning: about classical conditioning: generalization, extinction, principles of generalization, extinction, principles of reinforcement, etc.reinforcement, etc.

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Other studies in Pavlov’s labOther studies in Pavlov’s lab

1921 – Role of conditioning in neurotic behavior1921 – Role of conditioning in neurotic behavior

Conditioned terror responseConditioned terror response

1925 – Conflict induced neurosis1925 – Conflict induced neurosis

Pavlov’s conclusion was that neurotic behavior Pavlov’s conclusion was that neurotic behavior was an imbalance in the interaction of inhibitory was an imbalance in the interaction of inhibitory and excitatory systemsand excitatory systems

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Other studies in Pavlov’s labOther studies in Pavlov’s lab

Individual differencesIndividual differences

Impoverished versus enriched Impoverished versus enriched environmentsenvironments

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John B. WatsonJohn B. Watson

Adopted Pavlov’s objectivismAdopted Pavlov’s objectivism

1903 – awarded 11903 – awarded 1stst PhD in Psychology PhD in Psychology from the University of Chicagofrom the University of Chicago

Early studies were on the neurological and Early studies were on the neurological and behavioral development of the ratbehavioral development of the rat Hampton Court MazeHampton Court Maze

1717

Watson defines behaviorismWatson defines behaviorism

1913 – publishes 1913 – publishes Psychology as the Psychology as the Behaviorist Views ItBehaviorist Views It

Rejected introspection and all mention of Rejected introspection and all mention of mental processing and consciousnessmental processing and consciousness

To be a member of the natural sciences, To be a member of the natural sciences, psychology needed to become more psychology needed to become more objectiveobjective

1818

Watson as the founder of Watson as the founder of behaviorismbehaviorism

Watson reported that most of the Watson reported that most of the behavioral ideals were developed by a behavioral ideals were developed by a colleague, Knight Dunlapcolleague, Knight Dunlap

Max F. Meyer published in 1911 Max F. Meyer published in 1911 Fundamentals of Human BehaviorFundamentals of Human Behavior stated stated basically the same thing as Watsonbasically the same thing as Watson

Why is Watson given the credit?Why is Watson given the credit?

1919

Watson as the founder of Watson as the founder of behaviorismbehaviorism

Chairman of Psychology Department at Chairman of Psychology Department at Johns HopkinsJohns Hopkins

Good looking and an eloquent speakerGood looking and an eloquent speaker

Able to take many ideas, crystallize them Able to take many ideas, crystallize them into a system of study, and had the into a system of study, and had the position to promote itposition to promote it

2020

Primary principles of behaviorismPrimary principles of behaviorism

Only study observable behaviorOnly study observable behavior

Verbal reports from subjects can be used, but only if Verbal reports from subjects can be used, but only if supported by observationssupported by observations

Reaction time studies could be usedReaction time studies could be used

Some mental tests can be used, but not those that Some mental tests can be used, but not those that measure mental processesmeasure mental processes

Study of animal behavior is importantStudy of animal behavior is important

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1919 study of the human infant1919 study of the human infant Fear conditioning in a human infantFear conditioning in a human infant

Conditioning not just a laboratory phenomenon Conditioning not just a laboratory phenomenon with animalswith animals

Attempted to answer 3 questions:Attempted to answer 3 questions: Can an infant be conditioned to fear an animal that Can an infant be conditioned to fear an animal that

appears at the same time with a loud fear producing appears at the same time with a loud fear producing sound?sound?

Would such conditioning be transferred to other Would such conditioning be transferred to other animals and inanimate objects?animals and inanimate objects?

How long would these fears persist?How long would these fears persist?

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The studyThe study Albert healthy 9 month old showed no fear of live animals and Albert healthy 9 month old showed no fear of live animals and

inanimate objects placed near him. Showed fear to loud noiseinanimate objects placed near him. Showed fear to loud noise

2 months later – fear conditioned by striking iron bar behind his 2 months later – fear conditioned by striking iron bar behind his head when he attempted to touch a white rat head when he attempted to touch a white rat

5 days later – generalization test – Albert shown animals and 5 days later – generalization test – Albert shown animals and inanimate objectsinanimate objects

5 days later – 1 trial of pairing white rat with noise- Albert moved to 5 days later – 1 trial of pairing white rat with noise- Albert moved to different room – showed little fear t rat, rabbit or dogdifferent room – showed little fear t rat, rabbit or dog

30 days later – length of time question30 days later – length of time question

2323

Inaccuracies about what happened Inaccuracies about what happened in the studyin the study

Watson forced to leave academia still Watson forced to leave academia still wrote many articles in the popular press wrote many articles in the popular press without his data –he burned everythingwithout his data –he burned everything

Bottom line: study poorly controlled and Bottom line: study poorly controlled and badly confounded – interesting but badly confounded – interesting but uninterruptible uninterruptible

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Watson after academiaWatson after academia

Lost his position at Johns Hopkins due to affair Lost his position at Johns Hopkins due to affair with his graduate student Rosalyn Rainerwith his graduate student Rosalyn Rainer

Never able to find another positionNever able to find another position

Turned to advertising and publishing psychology Turned to advertising and publishing psychology books for the publicbooks for the public

Continued to study children and conditioned fear Continued to study children and conditioned fear – decreasing fears– decreasing fears