PSY 216 Chapter Notes - Chapter 16: Behaviour Therapy, Human Behavior, Behaviorism
Document Summary
Interested in the world of literature, but initially failed. Determinist rejected free will; human behavior is lawfully determined. Environmentalist held that psychology must be explained on the basis of environmental stimuli. Grew up in a comfortable, happy, upper- middle class home. Had a dark year identify confusion, could not write. Made pigeon guided missile and baby-tender for his daughter both projects brought frustration and disappointment second identity crisis. Walden two catharsis therapy, now can apply behavioral analysis to human behavior. Minimized speculation and focused almost entirely on observable behavior. Private behaviors as thinking, remembering, anticipating are all observable by the person experiencing them. Avoids all hypothetical constructs such as ego, traits, drives, needs, hunger. Genetic factors are fixed and do not control behavior. The history of the individual provides the most useful data for predicting behavior. Skinners influences (1) thorndike: studied animals. observed that learning takes place mostly because of the effects that follow a response (law of effect).
