Question

According to behaviorism, what is the proper subject matter of psychology? How does this relate to the study of personality?

Short answer

According to behaviorism, the proper subject matter of psychology is observable behavior. The study of personality, from a behaviorist perspective, is a collection of learned behavior patterns. These patterns are developed through interactions with the environment and responses to various stimuli.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding behaviorism

Firstly, it's crucial to understand the behaviorism perspective in psychology. Behaviorists believe that the proper subject matter of psychology is observable behavior, not internal events like thinking, emotions. They believe psychology should be a science rooted in empirical evidence, focusing primarily on overt behaviors that can be observed and measured objectively.

Relation to study of personality

In the behaviorist view, personality is a collection of learned behavior patterns. These patterns of behavior are acquired through the process of conditioning. According to behaviorists, our responses to environmental stimuli shape our actions.

Synthesize and correlate

Given these facts about behaviorism, it's evident that in their view, the study of personality directly relates to the observation and measurement of behavior. Personality, in this perspective, is not something inherent; it's learned and modified by an individual's interaction with the external environment.

Key concepts

Observable Behavior

Behaviorism focuses on the idea that psychology should concentrate on behaviors that can be observed and measured. This means that thoughts and feelings, which are internal processes, are not the primary concern for behaviorists. Instead, they emphasize actions and responses that are visible and can be scientifically analyzed. By studying observable behavior, psychologists can gather data through observation and experimentation.

Key points include:

• Emphasis on measurable actions
• Avoidance of unobservable mental processes
• Focus on gathering objective data

This approach allows psychologists to have tangible evidence when studying and understanding behaviors.

Conditioning

Conditioning is a core concept in behaviorism that explains how humans and animals learn from their environment. It refers to a process where behavior changes due to interaction with the environment. Conditioning occurs in two main forms: classical and operant.

Classical conditioning was famously demonstrated by Ivan Pavlov through his experiments with dogs, where a neutral stimulus became associated with an unconditioned stimulus to elicit a conditioned response.

• Example: Pavlov's dogs associate a bell sound with food.

Operant conditioning, on the other hand, is a technique used to learn through rewards and punishments. B.F. Skinner is well-known for his work in this area, showing how desired behaviors can be reinforced to increase their occurrence.

• Example: Receiving a reward for completing a task encourages repeating the task.

Through conditioning, observable behaviors are shaped and modified by experiences.

Empirical Evidence

Behaviorism relies heavily on empirical evidence, which is data obtained through observation or experimentation. This reliance ensures that psychological studies remain scientific and objective.

Empirical evidence supports the idea that conclusions should be drawn based on observable phenomena rather than subjective interpretations.

• Collecting data through controlled experiments
• Using statistical analysis to interpret results
• Ensuring findings are replicable

This approach allows psychologists to create theories based on solid evidence and consistent data analysis, which is a crucial aspect of scientific methods.

Study of Personality

In behaviorism, the study of personality is seen as an examination of learned behavior patterns. Unlike other theories that focus on inherent traits or unconscious drives, behaviorists view personality as a construct developed through conditioning and experiences.

According to behaviorists, personality is not something you are born with. Instead, it is something that is formed and molded over time by our interactions with our surroundings.

• Personality as a result of conditioning
• Environmental influences shape behavior patterns
• Personality is dynamic and can change with new experiences

This perspective emphasizes the importance of the environment and adaptation in developing an individual's personality.